Menstrual Hygiene Management
Menstrual healthcare was an immediate highlight and concern borne out of our hygiene project that primarily served female students. Various teachers, and professionals identified the need for better and greater menstrual health awareness. Due to sensitive nature of the subject, cultural myths and lack of infrastructural support, young women aren’t able to easily access information about effective menstrual healthcare. SFY’s approach to this sensitive subject is informed and grounded in two key ideas: a) capacity development and strengthening, and b) female public leadership. SFY launched the #YouthMenstrualHealth2022 project which is principally divided into two phases. Phase 1 sought to organize a training for young women leaders to learn and engage meaningfully with the latest research and knowledge on menstrual health. This phase was aimed at building and strengthening capacity of women leaders from several localities. Subsequently, Phase 2 sought to support SFY related women leaders in leading a public campaign focused on raising awareness about menstrual health.
MHM Presentations Abbottabad
Furthermore, SFY also organized and launched a #YouthMenstrualHealth2022 public awareness campaign. The campaign aimed at creating a public leadership platform for SFY affiliated women leaders to engage students in different cities about menstrual healthcare. Our leaders successfully conducted awareness sessions at 12 different high schools reaching out to approximately 650 female students, from grades 6 through 12th. In addition, these sessions focused on creating a candid environment where students could openly speak about their experiences of #menstrualhealth. SFY aims to create spaces that provide not only mutual emotional support. But is also cognizant of the educational and informational needs of students around topics like #menstrualhealth. The #YouthMenstrualHealth2022 fostered special engagement with hundreds of students, not only educating them but enabling them to participate in and lead the discourse around #menstrualhealth. With the intentional inclusion of previously neglected and under-attended communities such as Madrassas and Government Schools, the #YouthMenstrualHealth2022 is an exceptional momentum builder in serving these communities that have traditionally remained on the periphery.
Moreover, these sessions highlighted the negative effects of improper menstrual health care. And identified genuine and responsible health care practices that students could adopt. These sessions were an important eye-opening experience for majority of the students. These students deal with popular cultural myths and taboos that prevent them from obtaining information regarding proper menstrual care. Through our project we aimed at addressing the various taboos and myths associated with menstrual health care. As well as challenging popular menstrual myths that make it difficult for young women to take care of themselves. Importantly, SFY utilized acceptable cultural and religious entry points to foster deeper engagement. We utilized religious scholarship and linguistically accessible material to communicate knowledge about menstrual health. The inclusion of religion and consideration of wider sensitivities allowed us to access conservative schools as well.
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MHM Presentations GGHS Mardan
SFY organized a 2-day #YouthMenstrualHealth2022 Training on the 18th and 19th of February. Miss Shazia Sardar, who has extensive experience in the field, led the training hosted at Pak School and College in Mardan. The training brought 20 female leaders from various educational institutions in 4 cities; Mardan, Swabi, Abbottabad and Islamabad. Moreover, the training covered the importance of proper Menstrual Health Management. It reiterated better health and hygiene practices for women, as supported by latest research. And it also highlighted the negative consequences of lack of care. The trainees learned about the effects of menstrual care on climate change. And studied sustainable menstrual care practices. The 2-day training engaged the trainees meaningfully and facilitated important and critical conversations around menstrual health.
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MHM 2 Day Sessions
Lastly, #YouthMenstrualHealth2022 is helping build the grassroots infrastructure to establish safe spaces, for daring conversations around women’s health. Additionally, these sessions are helping construct a leadership infrastructure that will allow us to subsequently focus on other issues that affect our communities. The #YouthMenstrualHealth2022 is an initiative that not only nurtured women’s grassroots leadership . But also founded safe spaces that are inclusive highlighting not only menstrual health but other challenges that women face. The #YouthMenstrualHealth2022 Campaign has been a valuable exercise in cultivating important relationships, and promoting indigenous leadership capacity strengthening.