The Menstrual Health Fresco’s Post

82 per cent women recognise menstrual health issues; less than 7 per cent have proper education: Survey The survey with 1200 women was conducted by Noise to better understand the current state of menstrual health education, the challenges women face, and to identify the gaps that need to be addressed. #Noisesurvey I #menstrualhealthissues I #womenshealth I #irregularperiods I #selfawareness Read more: https://lnkd.in/gVAwf4Ak

#Womensday - Menstrual care is a crucial component of women’s health that often doesn't receive the attention it deserves. This day offers an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges many face, such as period poverty, where individuals lack access to affordable menstrual products, and the stigma surrounding menstruation that can lead to misinformation and inadequate support. Promoting menstrual health on Women's Day involves advocating for: 1. Access to Products: Ensuring that menstrual products are affordable and accessible to everyone who needs them. This includes supporting initiatives that provide free or subsidized menstrual products in schools, workplaces, and communities. 2. Education and Awareness: Increasing menstrual health education to dispel myths and promote accurate information. This includes incorporating comprehensive menstrual education into school curriculums and public health campaigns. 3. Breaking the Stigma: Encouraging open discussions about menstruation to normalize it and challenge the cultural taboos that contribute to the stigma. This involves supporting campaigns and policies that promote positive menstrual health practices and inclusive dialogue. 4. Supporting Research and Innovation: Investing in research to improve menstrual products and address health issues related to menstruation, ensuring that solutions are both effective and environmentally sustainable. 5. Ensuring Health Equity: Addressing disparities in menstrual health care among different socio-economic and demographic groups, ensuring that all individuals have access to the care and resources they need. By focusing on menstrual care on Women's Day, we advocate for a more equitable world where every individual can manage their menstrual health with dignity and support. With the generous support of Truffle Asset Management we put together 110 #menstrual care kits to hand out to the grade 6 and 7 girls at Robinhills Primary school. #corporate #sponsorship enables us to reach more learners. #periodswithdignity #keepgirlsinschool Simone Sharman CFP®

If you know me, you know I'm passionate and committed to empowering AGYWs. Do you know menstruation? Sounds like a small topic but do you know what women go through when menstruating? Let's talk about it. Menstruation is a natural and essential part of life for billions of women worldwide. Yet, the stigma and misconceptions surrounding it continue to impact adolescent and young women, often leading to shame, misinformation, and barriers to education and health. It's time we change the narrative. This are the ways we can use. 1. Education is Key**: Comprehensive menstrual education should be an integral part of the curriculum. When young women understand their bodies, they are better equipped to manage their health and well-being. This knowledge also fosters confidence and self-esteem. 2. Access to Menstrual Products: No young woman should miss out on opportunities due to a lack of menstrual products. Ensuring access to affordable and hygienic menstrual products is crucial for their dignity, education, and overall health. 3. Creating Supportive Environments: Schools, workplaces, and communities must be supportive spaces where menstruation is not a taboo. This includes having facilities that cater to menstrual needs and promoting open conversations. 4. Combating Stigma and Myths: We must actively work to dismantle harmful myths and stigmas associated with menstruation. Normalizing menstruation through positive representation in media and public discourse can make a significant difference. 5. Health and Policy Advocacy: Advocacy for policies that support menstrual health and hygiene is vital. This includes everything from ensuring menstrual leave policies to advocating for tax-free menstrual products. Let's commit to fostering a world where adolescent and young women feel empowered, educated, and supported in their menstrual health journey. By addressing these issues head-on, we pave the way for a healthier, more equitable future. #MenstrualHealth #WomensHealth #Education #Empowerment #HealthEquity #BreakingTheSilen

Girls around the world face a number of challenges related to menstruation, including: 🛑 Menstruation stigma: The negative beliefs and taboos that make periods seem dirty or shameful. 🛑 Inadequate sanitation facilities: Many girls lack access to clean toilets and private spaces to manage their periods hygienically. 🛑 Limited knowledge: A lack of accurate information about menstruation can lead to anxiety and fear. 🛑Limited access to menstrual products: Affordable pads, tampons, or menstrual cups are often unavailable, forcing girls to use makeshift solutions that are unhealthy or ineffective. These challenges can have a serious impact on girls' lives, leading to: • Lack of confidence: Feeling ashamed or embarrassed about menstruation can affect a girl's self-esteem. • School absenteeism: Girls may miss school due to fear of leaks, lack of access to facilities, or period pain. • Social isolation: Stigma can lead girls to withdraw from activities or social interactions. • Physical and health discomfort: Improper hygiene practices due to limited resources can increase the risk of infections. It is therefore our collective responsibilities to; • Raise awareness: Openly discuss menstruation to break down the stigma and normalize periods. • Advocate for menstrual hygiene management (MHM): Support programs that provide girls with access to clean toilets, washing facilities, and private changing areas. • Promote access to affordable menstrual products: Encourage initiatives that make pads, tampons, or menstrual cups readily available and affordable. Most importantly, remember that periods are a natural part of life for most women and girls. Let's work together to create a world where menstruation is no longer a barrier to health, education, and opportunity. Cheers !!! Ambassador Nubwa Ibrahim Bawuro

The Period Talk: A Guide To Explaining Menstruation to Men Have you come across the statistic that 51% of men consider it inappropriate to talk about periods in the workplace? There's a need to break this stigma and create a supportive environment for all individuals, regardless of gender. Educating and discussing menstruation openly is crucial in achieving this. When explaining menstruation to men, it's essential to approach the topic with openness and respect. Menstruation is a natural process, and it's essential to communicate it as such. Here are some strategies for effectively talking about menstruation with men: 1. Education: Start by providing a basic understanding of menstruation, including the biological process, common symptoms, and the need for proper menstrual hygiene. 2. Normalization: By normalizing conversations about menstruation, we can help men understand that it's a natural bodily function and reduce the associated stigma. 3. Personal Experiences: Sharing personal experiences can help men empathize and better understand women's challenges during menstruation. Personal stories about menstrual health can provide a more relatable perspective. 4. Discuss Period Products: It's essential to discuss the various period products available and highlight the importance of access to safe and affordable options, such as tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and period underwear. 5. Listen and Ask Questions: Encourage men to ask questions and listen to their concerns or curiosities about menstruation. Creating a safe space for open dialogue is crucial. Breaking down the silence and stigma around menstruation is a collective effort, and men play a significant role in normalizing periods. Understanding the basics is a step in the right direction toward creating a more supportive and empathetic environment for women. Let's remember that education and open communication are vital in promoting menstrual health awareness. If you could design a new period product, what unique feature would it have to make that time of the month more comfortable? Share your creative ideas. #periods #period #VirtuousLife #MenstrualHealth #Sustainability #MenstrualEducation

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥! . . As we celebrate the #InternationaldayoftheGirlChild, it's imperative to highlight a critical aspect of girls' empowerment: menstrual hygiene. 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘺𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴' 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭. For far too long, menstruation has been shrouded in stigma, leading to barriers that hinder girls' education, health, and overall well-being. Periods don't stop for anyone, neither should girls' education. Unfortunately, millions of girls worldwide miss school due to period stigma or lack of access to menstrual hygiene resources. This unnecessary disruption can have long-term consequences, compromising girls' academic performance, self-esteem, and future opportunities. Breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation is crucial. We must recognize that menstrual health matters and that providing menstrual hygiene management solutions is essential to empowering girls. It's time to prioritize menstrual hygiene education and accessibility, ensuring girls can thrive, not hide, during their periods. 𝐍𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬. Empowering girls means providing them with the knowledge, facilities, and products necessary to manage their menstruation with dignity. By addressing these needs, we can break down barriers that restrict girls' potential. Girls' futures aren't stopped by periods, but by lack of access to hygiene. 𝑳𝒆𝒕'𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔, 𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚. T̳h̳i̳s̳ ̳I̳n̳t̳e̳r̳n̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳a̳l̳ ̳D̳a̳y̳ ̳o̳f̳ ̳t̳h̳e̳ ̳G̳i̳r̳l̳ ̳C̳h̳i̳l̳d̳,̳ ̳l̳e̳t̳s̳ ; 💜Educate and raise awareness about menstrual hygiene 💜Advocate for policy changes supporting menstrual equity 💜Provide resources and support to marginalized communities 💜Foster inclusive environments that promote girls' empowerment Together, we can empower girls through menstrual equity, unlocking their potential and shaping a brighter future. Join the movement to break the stigma surrounding menstruation. #healthspacelinkedintribe #InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild #MenstrualHygieneMatters #GirlsEmpowerment #PeriodEquity #SDG5.

Poor menstrual hygiene has far-reaching consequences: 📚 Education Disruptions: Girls in resource-poor settings often miss school due to challenges in managing menstruation, including lack of privacy and inadequate water and sanitation facilities, which negatively impacts their education. 😔 Stigma and Shame: Societal stigma around menstruation leads to shame and embarrassment, discouraging open discussions and hindering progress in menstrual health. ⚕️ Health Risks: Limited access to menstrual products and proper hygiene practices can cause infections and discomfort. At ACHAP, we view menstrual health as a critical health and human rights issue. Our actions towards integrating menstrual health in our cross-cutting interventions in women's health include: 🔹 Health-Centered Approach: Recognizing menstruation as a health issue with physical, psychological, and social dimensions, we aim to destigmatize it and promote holistic well-being throughout a person's life span. 🔹 Access and Empowerment: We advocate for providing access to menstrual products, water, sanitation, disposal facilities, and education. We emphasize competent and empathic care to ensure menstruation is seen positively. 🔹 Collaboration and Measurement: We encourage collaboration among policymakers, program managers, and humanitarian organizations to meet comprehensive menstrual health needs and stress the importance of monitoring and measuring the impact of these efforts. By advocating for menstrual health as a basic human right, ACHAP aims to create a more equitable world where girls and women can fully participate in education, work, and social activities without the burden of menstrual stigma and inadequate resources. Let's break the barriers and support menstrual health for all! 🌍💪 #MenstrualHygieneDay #MenstrualHealth #EducationForAll #EndTheStigma #ACHAP #HealthAndHumanRights #Empowerment #Collaboration

Today, as we kick off Menstrual Hygiene and Management Week 2024, we wanted to use this video to highlight the lack of awareness around a simple biological phenomenon that affects millions of girls and women in India: menstruation, commonly termed as periods. The Milaan Foundation team couldn’t stop admiring Whisper India’s latest commercial for its wholesome yet enlightening message. Who could have ever imagined mistaking a period for a fish bone stuck from last night’s dinner! Well, Whisper takes us on a journey where an 8-year-old and her friends think just that. Whisper cleverly uses this mix of innocent humor and relief to drive home an important message. In a country like India, the myths about menstruation still run rampant and education is key. Even today, only about 36% of women use sanitary products while the rest resort to unsafe homegrown methods, such as using leaves or rags soaked with gasoline. For over 20% of young girls in India, the onset of menstruation also means missing school days due to a lack of proper facilities, education, and support. With girls as young as 8 now starting their period, the need and urgency to normalize conversations around menstruation is more vital than ever. That’s why Milaan Foundation is working towards educating girls and boys alike about menstruation hygiene at a grass root level. Throughout each of our programs, including the Girl Icon Program, the Unmukt Adolescent Program, and Swarachna School, we’re debunking these myths, breaking down barriers, and empowering young minds with the knowledge and confidence to navigate this natural part of life. At the same time, we realize that we cannot fight this fight alone and we invite you to join us to shush the shushing. Let us break down taboos together and empower our young girls to take charge of their health and futures. We’d love to hear your thoughts and learn about other initiatives or how you would like to make a difference in the comments below. #MenstrualHygieneDay #MHM #Education #GenderEquality #Whisper #MenstrualHealth #CorporateResponsibility #CSR #Empowerment #Health #India #LetGirlsLearn #PeriodFriendlyWrold National Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh National Health Mission, Department of Public Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Madhya Pradesh Video Credit: Whisper India

💡 Last time I shared a study from Harvard University's School of Public Health, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, which found that early menstruation, or periods, in young girls has been linked to childhood obesity and a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. 💊 👭 Today, I came across an article that concerned me about a controversial 'period cancelling' trend being promoted by countless influencers on TikTok. This trend involves consuming a combination of jelly powder, lemon juice, and a large amount of ibuprofen, which is claimed to reduce menstrual flow for a day or two. This trend is extremely concerning, as it could have serious health consequences for young girls. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), using medication to stop or delay menstruation can disrupt the natural menstrual cycle and may have long-term effects on reproductive health. This highlights the importance of #menstrualhealth #education and the dangers of #misinformation on social media. A study from Stanford Internet Observatory found that young people are more likely to believe and pass on misinformation if they feel a sense of common identity with the person who shared it in the first place. Social media promotes credibility based on identity rather than community, and when trust is built on identity, authority shifts to influencers. Thanks to looking and sounding like their followers, influencers become trusted messengers on topics in which they have no expertise. This highlights the need to be cautious about the information we consume on social media and to seek out accurate information about menstrual health from trusted sources. With young girls experiencing menarche earlier than ever before, it's crucial that we prioritize menstrual health education and combat misinformation from an early age. 📢 Let's work together to promote menstrual health education and ensure that young girls have access to accurate information and resources. By doing so, we can empower them to take control of their menstrual health and make informed decisions about their bodies. #MenstrualHealth #Education #WomensHealth #HealthTech