Celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day, and let’s create awareness about menstrual hygiene and health with Mrs Clean

Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated on the 28th of May each year. It is a special and privileged day for every woman. It was first observed in 2014 by the German-based NGO WASH United, and it has been recognized globally for every woman’s menstrual health and awareness about the importance of menstrual hygiene management (MHM).

Whenever we talk and hear about women’s menstruation, it is always seen as a negative thing in every social environment.

On this special occasion, Mrs. Clean has taken the chance to initiate a talk about its commitment and support for menstrual hygiene and the health of every woman.

Why May 28 as Menstrual Hygiene Day?

The average menstrual cycle and the average menstruation duration are 28 and 5 days, respectively. To symbolize it, the German-based NGO Wash United has chosen the 28th of May (which is the 5th month in the year calendar). How thoughtful was that, right?

Why are menstrual health and hygiene so essential?

First, let us talk about what menstrual health and menstrual hygiene are! Both are different from each other, but at the same time, both are very related to each other. Menstrual health defines the health of a woman who menstruates, and menstrual hygiene defines the proper management that she gets during her menstruation.

Because menstruation plays a big role in every woman’s life cycle, every woman needs to get proper menstrual hygiene during her menstruation time, and poor menstrual hygiene will affect the woman’s health. Beyond the physical health issues, the woman will also be affected by mental issues.

Challenges women face globally and in India

Even though taking care of menstrual hygiene properly is really important for women, they face difficulty doing this with respect and dignity. These difficulties also talk about the lack of affordable sanitary products and the inadequate hygiene facilities for women who are away from their homes, and the limited education on this in society.

Global Statistics:

Do you know? Approximately 500 million females globally who have attained their menstrual age have insufficient menstrual hygiene management facilities during their menstruation. That is a lot of numbers, right?

Also, in many developing countries, this kind of lack of menstrual access contributes to women’s absenteeism, both in their education and in their career disadvantages. For example, if we talk about young girls, it is estimated that in Africa, nearly 1/10 of them miss school and college because of their menstruation.

And when we talk about women who are working, it is reported that 13.8% of women miss work, and there is also a loss in productivity because of their absenteeism during their periods.

Menstruation in India:

“Menstruation,” even the name of it, is also considered taboo. In India, from the past and even to this date, menstruation has been considered dirty and impure in society. It is because of Indian cultural and social factors that the people of our society are unable to gain knowledge about menstruation.

Based on the survey of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2010, in Delhi, it is estimated that only 132 public toilets are available for women, and that is only 8% of the 1534 toilets provided for men.In one study, only 36% of India’s 355 menstruating females used sanitary pads because of their high cost. The Indian government has seen this and taken action by scrapping the 12% tax on sanitary products in 2018. It is also trying to ensure the availability of sanitary products and other facilities for every woman’s sanitation in the future.

Mrs Clean promises menstrual hygiene

We, Mrs Clean, as feminine hygiene service providers, see that a significant number of menstruating women face challenges in accessing their menstrual products and proper hygiene away from their homes. This affects their daily lives and overall well-being.

We believe that providing a clean and hygienic environment to every menstrual woman is fundamental to supporting their overall menstrual hygiene and health.

Our feminine hygiene services are designed in such a way to ensure that all public and private spaces should meet the highest standard of hygiene and cleanliness for every menstrual woman, which makes a big difference in the menstruating individual’s personal lives.

Our Contributions:

Sanitary facilities: Mrs Clean takes pride in maintaining every woman’s restroom and public facilities clean and sanitized, which will reduce the risk of infection and make every woman feel safe and comfortable.

Educational Initiatives: We believe that “knowledge is power.” By giving education about proper menstruation hygiene practices to schools, workplaces, and other organizations, the myths and taboos related to menstruation will break down.Our team conducts workshops regularly about menstruation and its related education to raise awareness about women’s health and hygiene during their menstruation.

Advocacy and support: Mrs Clean believes in the power of speaking up and taking action. Thus, our program supports not only providing menstrual products and hygiene services to the organizations. We work to make these products and services available and affordable for every public and private organization, ensuring everyone has what they need for proper menstrual hygiene.

Community Engagement: Our mission is to be in community engagement by participating, supporting, and also providing open conversations about women’s menstrual hygiene and health campaigns.

By doing so, Mrs Clean and her team help to normalize the discussions and talk about menstruation, creating a more understandable and acceptable community about menstruation.

Join us in the celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Celebrate this day with us! And join us as we encourage menstrual health and hygiene on this menstrual hygiene day. Here are some of the ideas from our side for how one can also be a part of this celebration:

1. To end the myths and taboos around this important topic, take a moment to educate yourself and spread awareness about the significance of menstrual hygiene and health within your community.
2. Support local organizations that involve themselves in providing menstrual products and education to those in need. And also support policies that give importance to access to menstrual health education.
3. Help to ensure that all menstruating women or girls have the adequate resources that they need for their proper menstrual hygiene and health.

All of us together, by using our voices, let’s make positive changes and create a world where every woman’s health and hygiene are prioritized.

Conclusion 

Once again, a happy menstrual day to every woman in the world from Mrs Clean and her team! And let’s continue our journey to educate and support menstrual health and hygiene for all for a cleaner and safer environment.