The Need For Proper Menstrual Hygiene Management In Pakistan Discussed
More than 100
representatives from government, international and national development organizations,
civil society, along with a host of experts from across health, academia,
media, donors, and youth convened at the Pakistan
Institute of Parliamentary Services, in Islamabad, to commemorate the
International ‘Menstrual
Hygiene Day 2016.’
Menstrual Hygiene Day
serves as a neutral platform to bring together individuals, organizations,
social businesses and the media to create a united and strong voice for women
and girls around the world, helping to break the silence around menstrual
hygiene management (MHM). This year, the global theme of the day is “Menstruation
Matters for Everyone, Everywhere.”
In Pakistan, a panel
discussion focusing on how the health, education, and sanitation of adolescent
girls is impacted by lack of proper MHM was organized. Panelists included
government representatives from across the country delving into much needed
solutions to tackle the taboo and associated problems that females especially
young adolescent girls face. The event was organized by the MHM Working Group,
a coalition of humanitarian organizations working to champion menstrual hygiene
rights in Pakistan.
Chief Guest for the event, Hon. Romina Khurshid Alam, MNA, stated, “It’s
heartening to see that both civil society and the government are coming together
to shape up a better society. While the issue is not openly discussed, it's
high time that more voices join the cause to create a better tomorrow". On
government initiatives she revealed that, "Sustainable Development Goals
Taskforce and the government is very actively engaged in not only addressing
gender based issues but also focusing on improved health, education and
facilities. Suggestions have been approved to update the curriculums in school
and special projects are being rolled out across the country." She also went
on to appreciate the role being played by the MHM working group.
In her opening note,
UN-Habitat Country Programme Manager, Bella Evidente, while commenting in
relation to MHM said, “In our society, menstruation is surrounded by stigma and
misinformation. Inadequate MHM directly affects a female’s self-esteem, health
and education. This platform provides much needed spotlight on an issue which
remains hushed up in Pakistan. As a result,
the needs of women, especially in regards to sanitation, have never been
brought to the fore-front, and sadly, not all women have access to the tools they need
to manage their menstrual cycles. It is time that all sectors come together to
break the silence around MHM by
supporting strong policy implementation across all state levels,
In her closing remarks,
UNICEF representative, Angela Kearney underscored the serious consequences of
lack of proper hygiene management facilities on young girls. “It is unfortunate
and unacceptable that the management of menstruation continues to present
significant challenges for women especially in lower income settings.
Adolescent girls bare most of this brunt as they lack the knowledge and
services to manage menstruation which in turn affects their learning
experiences. Research shows that marginalized girls can miss up to two to four
consecutive days of schools every four weeks due to their periods. This of
course has serious implications on their learning,” she said.
The core objective of the event was to promote
sharing and learning of experiences from various interventions being conducted across
the country and at the same time engage government to take a more proactive
stand to implement policies and fund MHM in Pakistan.
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