We’re just a few days away from honouring Menstrual Hygiene Day across the globe, yet as per reports*, 71% of Indian girls do not know what menstruation is until they get it. As we come closer to understanding how to bridge this gap, let’s go back to the basics – what menstrual hygiene means for all of us. ‘Wellness’ is a term that is often associated with luxury, especially in India. Rather than it being seen as a necessity, it’s an entirely separate entity. In the context of menstrual hygiene, the message is simple: ‘Hygiene and access to hygiene is basic’. Every woman deserves and should have the right to maintain hygiene during their menstrual cycles; and we believe education is the right step in this journey. Over half of the world’s population menstruates, yet it’s a topic that’s spoken in hushed tones. From a biological perspective, this function in the female body is at the center of the journey of human life and its creation, but still, the stigmas around menstrual functions being ‘dirty’ and ‘impure’ continue. With our collective efforts to talk about it openly and in a non-judgemental manner, we can and should band together to bring a change. The more we, as women, share our stories and experiences, the more we learn, get informed and get educated. Without that education and information, awareness stays incomplete.
