Author, columnist, film producer and former actor Twinkle Khanna on Friday joined hands with Save the Children to promote the right to menstrual hygiene and adolescent health among children and slum communities.
Ms. Khanna visited the slums in Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, where Save the Children and its partner agency Apnalaya has undertaken an awareness programme, to interact with adolescents from the community.
On the occasion, she encouraged and felicitated children who are ‘Hygiene Champions’ and applauded their efforts to break taboos around the subject and bring about a behavioural change in the community.
Ms. Khanna said, “I am delighted to promote adolescent health and menstrual hygiene. Through the adolescent health programme, I have interacted with the youth and learnt about the strides being made towards changing mindsets, at a time when their habits are not yet ingrained. It is uplifting to be a partner for programmes that do not just educate girls but also boys to work towards a more progressive society.” Bidisha Pillai, CEO, Save the Children, said access to basic health and hygiene should not be a matter of chance but choice and rights. Ms. Pillai said, “We need to push boundaries, and we need to have more open, honest conversations around menstruation.”
Dr. Arun Kumar, CEO, Apnalaya said, “Menstrual health should be seen as part of overall health and not in isolation. It is not just about a sanitary napkin. It is as much about water and our social outlook to women’s health.”
A census of street children in cities like Delhi and Mumbai have shown that almost 20%-30% of street children are girls and for those living on the streets, using paid public toilets is an added economic burden.
Saleha, a Govandi slum resident who is a ‘young champion’ with Save the Children said the lack of awareness on menstrual health and hygiene was not just limited to Govandi. “Education about it is critical and it gets aggravated with the non-availability of basic amenities like water,” she said.
