DHAKA, Sept 14, 2018 (BSS) – Ghorachora High School, located at Fulkucha village in Sirajganj, has around 1,500 students. Most of them are girls.
Though the school is in a remote area, the authorities concerned are much aware about the health of the students, especially the girls. They are supplying sanitary napkins to their girls during their menstrual periods.
Only five years ago, the scenario at the school was different. Many girls did not come to school during their menstrual periods. They felt panicked and shy. They used old and dirty cloths during their periods.
But now time has changed. The school authorities provide sanitary napkins to the female students and have constructed separate wash rooms for them with constant water supply.
The school authorities have also employed a woman trainer for their girl students.
School sources said a non-government organization named Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP) had started an advocacy programme in the locality to encourage the rural people especially the young girls in 2011.
DORP Programme Coordinator Amir Khasru said, “We started our works along with the school teachers, the school managing committees, the local union parishad and the upazila parishad. After holding separate meetings with them, we were able to make them understand why healthy sanitary napkins are needed for girls during menstrual periods.”
Now the girls understand the whole thing and they are using the sanitary napkins, he added.
Khasru said there was also another problem regarding purchasing the napkins as those were costly. “Later, we produced healthy napkins and supplied to them,” the coordinator said.
He said starting to have menstrual periods is part of growing up for girls. Periods usually start to occur around the same time as other changes happen to the body.
The average age to start periods is 13 but it is normal to start at any time between the ages of 9 and 15. A small number of girls may start having menstrual periods before or after this. Periods continue until the menopause which usually takes place around the age of 50 years.
A survey, conducted by ICDDR,B, shows that around 86 percent women are not using sanitary napkins during their periods in the country
Generally, they use old and dirty cloths at the time of periods. Teacher of Ghorachora School Firoj Uddin Bhuiyan said the attendance of schoolgirls has increased.
Now they do not fell shy and they know that menstrual cycle is natural phenomenon, he added.
Besides, he said, the female teachers of the school talk with the girls regularly to know their (girls) problems.
Expressing his hope, Amir Khasru said the time and circumstances have changed. Therefore, many schools are working to resolve this issue, he added.
Dr Naznin Akthar, who is working on the health of women and children, said old and dirty cloths should not be used during the periods.
The girls may face many health problems including likoria if they use the old and dirty cloths, she added.