WRITTEN BY G.BHARATH
- Access to Menstrual Products
The average Canadian who menstruates will spend about $6000 throughout their lifetime on menstrual products alone. That number only includes menstrual products and does not take into account the pain medication and other period management products that many people who menstruate use. While $6000 over a lifetime may not seem like a lot at first glance, you may be surprised to learn that nearly 25% of Canadian women under 25 struggles to afford menstrual products.
- Access to Soap and Water
Globally, over 4 billion people do not have access to sanitation services that are safely managed. Having access to soap and water to properly wash your hands after using the washroom or handling menstrual products is extremely important. Handwashing helped reduce acute respiratory infections by 20%, diarrheal disease by up to 48% and can reduce the likelihood of getting COVID-19 by up to 36%!
- Access to Safe Menstrual Disposal
Menstrual disposal in public and work washrooms has looked the same way for many years. A stainless-steel metal box mounted to the wall with a lid you manually open to place your menstrual products inside. In some cases, a regular uncovered garbage is available, and sometimes, there’s nothing at all, leaving people to come up with last-minute disposal alternatives like flushing products down the toilet.
A Delhi Based NGO Sachhi Saheli has been celebrating “Menstrual Health Awareness Day” on 5th Feb since 2019. “The Menstrual process inspires the day as the average period cycle is 28 days which simulates with the 28 days of February. Further, the average number of bleeding days during a menstrual cycle is five that is denoted by the date 5th, this similarity made this day interesting as well as logical,” states Shahnaz Bano of Sachhi Saheli. She also says Menstrual Health and Awareness Day will also help centralize the efforts of various organizations to
Covid related restrictions haven’t hindered their morale and enthusiasm. The day will now be celebrated with the same zeal virtually with various informative programs in their basket. They organize knowledgeable with talk shows, panel discussions, generate mass awareness through #redspotcampaign & #abpatachalnedo campaigns. There are different zones for people with different knacks like Pad zone, Fun zone, health zone, artist zoyene,etc.
They also celebrate “PERIODSDAY” #happyperiodsday
Why do we need sustainable menstruation products?
Biodegradable sanitary napkins can decompose in six to 12 months. Reusable cloth pads and menstrual underwear can be reused for a year or two. … “Switching to eco-friendly sanitary napkins and cloth napkins is a natural progression for most menstruators.
Why is it important to change sanitary pads?
Changing your pad every 3 or 4 hours (more if your period is heavy) is good hygiene and helps prevent bad odors. This is especially true if you’ll be playing sports or rushing around from class to class. Changing pads often also helps prevent accidental leaks.
TOBOOS AND MYTH:
A taboo goes a step farther and is a very negative norm that should not get violated because people will be upset. Additionally, one may get excluded from the group or society. The nature and the degree of the taboo are in the mores.
Norms can be internalized, which would make an individual conform without external rewards or punishments. There are four types of social norms that can help inform people about behavior that is considered acceptable: folkways, mores, taboos, and law. Further, social norms can vary across time, cultures, place, and even sub-group.
Think back to your first experiences in school and surely you can identify some folkways and mores learned. Folkways are behaviors that are learned and shared by a social group that we often refer to as “customs” in a group that are not morally significant, but they can be important for social acceptance. Each group can develop different customs, but there can be customs that embraced at a larger, societal level.
Norms can be internalized, which would make an individual conform without external rewards or punishments. There are four types of social norms that can help inform people about behavior that is considered acceptable: folkways, mores, taboos, and law. Further, social norms can vary across time, cultures, place, and even sub-group.
Think back to your first experiences in school and surely you can identify some folkways and mores learned. Folkways are behaviors that are learned and shared by a social group that we often refer to as “customs” in a group that are not morally significant, but they can be important for social acceptance. Each group can develop different customs, but there can be customs that embraced at a larger, societal level.
Cloth pads: Cloth pads look like disposable sanitary napkins, but are made of cotton and flannel. But what does someone do when they are outside and need to change during the day? The collective said that cloth pads often come with a system that allows them to be compactly packed and put in a ziplock bag, and then cleaned whenever they reach home. Cloth pads also prevent itching and rashes, which happens due to the chemicals in disposable sanitary napkins. According to the group, a cloth pad lasts anywhere between 1.5 to 3 years.
Period panties: A lesser known alternative are period panties, which have an absorbent pad sewed on, and also have space to insert another pad. It absorbs leaks and blood flow, and can then be washed out. However, Green the Red recommends that this be worn while using the cup in case one has heavy flow and there is fear of leaks.
Presently, as part of the ‘Cup and Cloth’ campaign, Green the Red is sending a package consisting of these products to the Prime Minister and various cabinet ministers, asking them to consider these alternatives and provide the same in their menstrual hygiene schemes.
FOR MORE UPDATES ,please use the following links :
@sachhisaheli – https://sachhisaheli.org
#abpatachalnedo – https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/abpatachalnedo/
#Redspotcampaign – https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/redspotcampaign/
#haqseonline –
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/haqseonline/
#happyperiodsday