In this conversation with our head doctor, Dr Supriya Pantavaidya, a resident from Shirpur, we delve deep into her work in the rural areas regarding maintaining intimate hygiene, busting myths and the correct disposal of menstrual waste.
Q. What is the purpose of this project?
Breaking period stigma is only one aspect of tackling period poverty in rural India, and in many cases, girls living in rural areas don't have access to safe and affordable menstrual hygiene products.
Due to unreasonable taboos and the lack of access to menstrual products, most women end up using cloth as an alternative, but they are denied access to a clean cloth or dry their menstrual cloth, and as a result, it makes them highly susceptible to infections. With that, there is also a lack of knowledge about reproductive health.
Through the Mukeshbhai Patel Charitable Trust, I had the opportunity to conduct medical camps and create awareness about menstrual hygiene. Our goal with these workshops is to make women feel empowered and safe.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this issue. With our initiative, Pad for Girls, we hope to create a world where health is never a struggle. We are committed to using education to debunk myths, implement menstrual hygiene management workshops, and access menstrual products.
Q. Why is conducting menstrual hygiene management workshops necessary?
Many cultures have a menstrual taboo which results in silence, shame and embarrassment. Over many generations, a culture of silence can be passed down and intensified, creating a lack of accurate information about menstruation.
The menstrual health education session is often the first opportunity girls have had to ask questions and openly express their curiosity about menstruation. We want to create a normalizing, positive relationship to menstruation by providing accurate and relatable information, replacing silence with conversation, and giving girls the confidence, knowledge, and skills to relate to their menstruation healthily with dignity.
Menstruation is typically not spoken about in the dominant culture. Girls are often shy to discuss it; therefore, it is crucial to create a safe and relaxed space, free from judgment or shame.
Q. What do you hope to achieve with these workshops?
Girls don't need to suffer in silence with their menstruation symptoms, fears, or difficulties. Every woman is sharing this experience, so they need not feel shy or alone. Poor health outcomes are one consequence of concealing this experience, and we hope the girls have understood that menstruation is a normal part of becoming a woman—something they can feel proud of!
Q. What are your future goals?
We will continue to keep social and environmental impacts at the forefront of our thought process. That being said, we hope to:
