Menstrual hygiene: engaging with governments to strengthen programmes of action

Menstruation is a phenomenon that is quite unique to females. The first menstrual cycle in females marks her journey from child to womanhood. Though this time period is quite crucial for a young girl, standing all alone she faces the first encounter all by herself amid the culture of silence or half baked knowledge which transgresses into various repercussions up to the end of her reproductive life. Menstrual health is a major area of concern in reproductive health affecting a large number of women starting from adolescence. Menstrual hygiene and management have direct consequences on fertility and reproductive tract infections respectively and effects on school absenteeism. This paper presents how government programs are limited to distribution of napkins lacking awareness building and environment creation. Government programs lack convergence, holistic approach. The role of development organizations is to strengthen the program, need of convergence among departments and how to do it.