Live
- Olympic Qualifier Series electrifies athletes and fans in Shanghai
- IPL 2024: Dhoni arrives in Ranchi after CSK's campaign comes to an end
- Formula 1: Verstappen wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Norris finishes second ahead of Leclerc
- PM Modi says 'this is Bharat's moment'; urges youth to 'dream big'
- IPL 2024: I wouldn't want to bowl against him, says Cummins about Abhishek after win against PBKS
- TN govt to take decision on opening of river sand quarries after LS poll
- IPL 2024: Season has been good, but haven’t got as many wickets as I would have liked, says Avesh Khan
- Captain Gopichand becomes 1st Indian to tour space aboard Blue Origin
- Delhi: Four, including two minors, held for killing man after spat
- J&K: Election Dept takes action against 40 govt employees for MCC violation
A doctor's grit to bring in a change:Warangal
Notwithstanding the hectic campaign by the governments and NGOs to break the taboo and stigma surrounding menstruation, women and girls continue to face segregation agonisingly even in so-called wealthy and progressive communities.
Warangal: Notwithstanding the hectic campaign by the governments and NGOs to break the taboo and stigma surrounding menstruation, women and girls continue to face segregation agonisingly even in so-called wealthy and progressive communities.
The stats suggest that 60 per cent of adolescent girls skip their classes due to lack of access to pads and toilets in schools. This apart, they have to contend with the socio-cultural norms and misconceptions around menstruation.
Dr Kadiyam Kavya is among the few who are working on breaking the silence surrounding menstruation. With an objective to bring awareness about menstrual hygiene, especially among the teenage girls of rural areas, Dr Kavya had so far organised around 40 programmes in the government schools through her Kadiyam Foundation in the last couple of years.
Her initiative proved useful as she could succeed in espousing the unique cause and distributing the menstrual hygiene kits to the students of the secondary school level.
Speaking to The Hans India, Dr Kavya said: "Around 80 per cent of women in the below poverty line and hailing from the countryside do not use sanitary napkins. The phenomenon is exposing the girls to severe health problems. Due to lack of accessibility to sanitary napkins, a large number of girls say bye-bye to schools."
This needs to be changed, said Dr Kavya, referring to the importance of inculcating healthy and hygienic practices among girls to overcome the menstrual problems. Educating girls is the only resort, she said, pointing to the importance of initiating programmes in schools.
It may be noted here that Dr Kavya along with her friend and gynaecologist Dr Priti Dayal was focusing on girls studying in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and other State-run schools in the erstwhile Warangal district. Her mission is that no girl should skip classes during the periods. The duo is not only roaming around schools located far from urban areas to educate the girls on menstrual hygiene, but also providing them sanitary napkins free for one year.
