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Limited access to menstrual products The COVID lockdowns in India have highlighted how far public fitness projects want to go when it comes to menstruation.
Indian women used far fewer pads, tampons, and other menstrual products during COVID-19 lockdowns; Those parts were difficult to access because they weren’t included in the list of must-have parts in the first place.
For those living in red zones (the districts with the strictest lockdown measures), studies show a 53% drop in the distribution of sanitary pads to adolescent women, to women in green zones with the lightest lockdown measures.
Consumption fell by 16% in India’s most strictly closed districts in 2020. In rural districts alone, it fell by 25 percent.
“Access to towels during the lockdown was one of the main crises for us in the village, as the department stores were closed and there was no other source to take advantage of them,” said a 19-year-old living in the eastern village of Hardiya. Bihar state said.
His decision was to partner with an organization of friends to try to find products for his village.
The price of menstrual products has also increased lockdowns.
“Because disposable pads were not available, black marketing was generated,” says a 27-year-old professional. “I had to pay almost double the value to get the product. “
Period poverty – lack of access to resources and education such as menstrual health and hygiene, as well as essentials such as menstrual products, sanitation facilities, and proper waste control – has long been an urgent fear in India. Its roots can be traced back to patriarchal notions that label menstruation as impure and dirty, thus restricting the freedom of those who menstruate their period.
Despite the global popularity of menstrual fitness as a public health and human rights issue, current poverty continues to taint the experience of menstruating people in India.
This prompted the government to launch a menstrual hygiene program in 2011 for adolescent girls across the country. The task includes the distribution of sanitary pads along with menstrual health education programs.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated periodic poverty, mainly due to widespread job losses and financial hardship resulting from prolonged quarantines and business closures. The closure has affected the distribution of sanitary pads under this program. of menstrual products has also been affected.
The media highlighted the poverty generated by the pandemic in India, attributing it to the late inclusion of menstrual products in the list of must-have products at the beginning of the lockdown.
Several points contributed to this drop, in addition to administrative delays in obtaining painting permits, labor shortages due to migration, and the reassignment of COVID-19-like social tasks.
But overall, they showed a gap in the fitness formula for closing this gender equality gap. These demanding situations have forced other menstruating people to use the same menstrual products for long periods of time or to resort to alternatives, adding clothes and washcloths.
The effect on menstrual fitness has been acute and abnormal menstrual cycles, heavy bleeding, and infections, which have led to diseases similar to those of the genital tract.
In disaster-type situations, other people who are menstruating are at the bottom of the priority list. During the pandemic, resources were diverted to combat the virus, leaving menstrual products unavailable and inaccessible. This, in turn, has led to a menstrual compromise. exacerbating tension and anxiety in those who menstruate.
It is imperative to prioritize the rights of menstruating people, especially in emergency situations. In the future, government and policymakers could simply take explicit steps to improve menstrual health and hygiene. This includes ensuring the availability and accessibility of menstrual products in the event of an emergency and incentivizing brands operating in similar industries to start manufacturing menstrual products.
They can also conduct public fitness communication campaigns through the media and social media to dispel taboos and myths surrounding menstruation and measures to ensure effective menstrual hygiene and fitness.
By taking those steps, India and other countries can work to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for other people who menstruate, especially during difficult times.
Originally published in Creative Commons via 360info™.
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Indian women used far fewer pads, tampons, and other menstrual products during COVID-19 lockdowns; Those parts were difficult to access because they weren’t included in the list of must-have parts in the first place.
For those living in red zones (the districts with the strictest lockdown measures), studies show a 53% drop in the distribution of sanitary pads to adolescent women, to women in green zones with the lightest lockdown measures.
Consumption fell by 16% in India’s most strictly closed districts in 2020. In rural districts alone, it fell by 25 percent.
“Access to towels during the lockdown was one of the main crises for us in the village, as the department stores were closed and there was no other source to take advantage of them,” said a 19-year-old living in the eastern village of Hardiya. Bihar state said.
His decision was to partner with an organization of friends to try to find products for his village.
The price of menstrual products has also increased lockdowns.
“Because disposable pads were not available, black marketing was generated,” says a 27-year-old professional. “I had to pay almost double the value to get the product. “
Period poverty – lack of access to resources and education such as menstrual health and hygiene, as well as essentials such as menstrual products, sanitation facilities, and proper waste control – has long been an urgent fear in India. Its roots can be traced back to patriarchal notions that label menstruation as impure and dirty, thus restricting the freedom of those who menstruate their period.
Despite the global popularity of menstrual fitness as a public health and human rights issue, current poverty continues to taint the experience of menstruating people in India.
This prompted the government to launch a menstrual hygiene program in 2011 for adolescent girls across the country. The task includes the distribution of sanitary pads along with menstrual health education programs.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated periodic poverty, primarily due to widespread job losses and financial hardship resulting from prolonged quarantines and business closures. The lockdown has affected the distribution of sanitary pads under this programme. of menstrual products has also been affected.
The media highlighted the poverty generated by the pandemic in India, attributing it to the late inclusion of menstrual products in the list of must-have products at the beginning of the lockdown.
Several points have contributed to this drop, in addition to administrative delays in obtaining painting permits, labor shortages due to migration, and the reassignment of social tasks to COVID-related ones.
But overall, they showed a gap in the fitness formula for closing this gender equality gap. These demanding situations have forced other menstruating people to use the same menstrual products for long periods of time or to resort to alternatives, adding clothes and washcloths.
The effect on menstrual fitness has been acute and abnormal menstrual cycles, heavy bleeding, and infections, which have led to diseases similar to those of the genital tract.
In disaster-type situations, other people who are menstruating are at the bottom of the priority list. During the pandemic, resources were diverted to combat the virus, leaving menstrual products unavailable and inaccessible. This, in turn, has led to a menstrual compromise. exacerbating tension and anxiety in those who menstruate.
It is imperative to prioritize the rights of menstruating people, especially in emergency situations. In the future, government and policymakers could simply take explicit steps to improve menstrual health and hygiene. This includes ensuring the availability and accessibility of menstrual products in the event of an emergency and incentivizing brands operating in similar industries to start manufacturing menstrual products.
They can also conduct public fitness communication campaigns through the media and social media to dispel taboos and myths around menstruation and measures to ensure effective menstrual fitness and hygiene.
By taking those steps, India and other countries can work to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for other people who menstruate, especially during difficult times.
Originally published in Creative Commons via 360info™.
Indian women used far fewer pads, tampons, and other menstrual products during COVID-19 lockdowns; Those parts were difficult to access because they weren’t included in the list of must-have parts in the first place.
For those living in red zones (the districts with the strictest lockdown measures), studies show a 53% drop in the distribution of sanitary pads to adolescent women, to women in green zones with the lightest lockdown measures.