MINISTER OF HEALTH, SHRI SATYENDAR JAIN STRESSED UPON THE NEED FOR CREATING MENSTRUAL HEALTH AWARENESS AMONG THE WOMEN AND THE GIRLS

MINISTER OF HEALTH, SHRI SATYENDAR JAIN STRESSED UPON THE NEED FOR CREATING MENSTRUAL HEALTH AWARENESS AMONG THE WOMEN AND THE GIRLS

• SHRI SATYENDAR JAIN LAUNCHES THE MENSTRUAL HEALTHAWARENESS BOOK TITLED “MAHAWARI KI KAHANI SACHHI SAHELI KI ZUBAANI” PREPARED BY THE SACHHI SAHELI IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, GOVT. OF DELHI

New Delhi: 24/01/2018

Minister of Health, Government of NCT of Delhi, Shri Satyendar Jain today stressed upon the need for creating menstrual health awareness among the women and the girls through Aanganwadi workers, by organising awareness camps in the Girls Schools and Colleges. He said that it is the need of the hour that individuals comprising of the Doctors, teachers, journalists, students and educationists together take up the challenge of eradicating  stigmas, surroundings, menstruations and sexual abuse in order to make our society a better and safer place for girls and women. Shri Jain was speaking as Chief Guest while launching the menstrual health awareness book titled “Mahawari ki Kahani Sachhi Saheli ki Zubaani” prepared by the Sachhi Saheli in collaboration with the department of women and child development, Govt. of Delhi in a function, organised at Delhi Secretariat.

Secretary, Woment and Child Development, Shri Ashish Chandra, Director, WCD, Ms Shilpa Shinde, President, Delhi Medical Council, Shri Arun Gupta, and President Sachhi Saheli, Dr. Surbhi Singh were also present on this occasion.

Releasing the book, Shri Jain said “Nutrition, Education and Cleanliness are the 3 pillars of good health and if they are taken care of most infections and diseases can be prevented. He went on to say, “Strengthening and empowering the girl child is essential for our society.”

The book, “Mahawari ki Kahani Sachhi Saheli ki Zubaani” is carefully conceptualized by Gynecologist and President of Sachhi Saheli Dr. Surbhi Singh. The heavily illustrated book is an essential resource that aims at providing sustainable and reliable knowledge regarding menstrual health and hygiene.

The event started with an engaging session by Dr. Surbhi Singh (Gyaneocologist & President of Sachhi Saheli) who addressed the beneficiaries of the event, i.e., the 200 Aanganwadi workers in the audience and gave them a brief explanation on the basics of menstrualhealth and hygiene while also debunking various myths that surround the natural process of Menstruation. She encouraged the Aanganwadi workers to break the silence around menstruation by first starting a dialogue about it in their own homes.
She also spoke about the work done by Sachhi Saheli in the field of menstrual health and on the importance of the book, “Mahawari ki Kahani Sachhi Saheli ki Zubaani.” She said, “We have created this book as a resource that can be used easily by parents and teachers to tell children about Menstruation. This book was created to answer all those frequently asked questions that were put by adolescent girls during the Sachhi Saheli sessions. I am hopeful that our efforts will go a long way in building a society that is free of menstrual taboos.

Dr. Arun Gupta who is also a paediatrician (President of Delhi Medical Council) said, “I have often come across young female patients for whom periods occur as accidents and cause them anxiety. Menstruation also becomes a reason for their low self-confidence and self-esteem. I am confident that the book, ‘Mahawari ki Kahani Sachhi Saheli SahelikiZubani’ by Sachhi Saheli will go a long way in educating adolescent girls about periods.