AURELIUS Healthcare, the healthcare group behind Aurelius Hospital Nilai, has launched its Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Campaign to highlight the importance of menstrual hygiene among students and young adults.
This campaign aims to break the silence and change negative social norms surrounding the topic of menstruation.
The World Bank estimates that at least 500 million women and girls globally have limited access to adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management.
Lack of education and improper sanitation facilities compound the issue, leading to poor menstrual hygiene across many communities.
This has a direct effect on educational opportunities as well as the health and overall social status of women and girls around the world.
Period poverty - which refers to the inaccessibility of menstrual hygiene products due to financial constraints remains a challenge in lower-income communities.
Additionally, age-old taboos and stigmas attached to menstruation have formed an overall culture of silence around the topic, resulting in misinformation which in turn, can have severe ramifications on the health and dignity of girls and women.
As part of efforts to address this, Aurelius Healthcare is hosting a series of activities designed to not only encourage proper menstrual health hygiene, but also to bring this topic to light among the public and destigmatise menstruation in Malaysia.
With the approval of Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA), Aurelius Healthcare has partnered with Libresse to distribute pads and panty liners to over 500 women and girls from the Kampung Sungai Mahang Orang Asli village in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. The team also provided tips on how to maintain good menstrual hygiene.
Aurelius Hospital Nilai chief executive officer, Dr Darshini Kumaravelo says menstrual hygiene is something that we need to talk about openly, as it is vital to the empowerment and well-being of women and girls worldwide.
"At Aurelius Healthcare, our aim is to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene, address challenges in accessing menstrual health products, and to also break the taboos and end the stigma surrounding menstruation."
The hospital will continue to work with its partners in both the public and private sector to make an impact and help alleviate period poverty in our communities, she adds.
Aurelius Hospital Nilai consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Azizah Rusly, says misinformation and lack of resources can lead to unhealthy menstrual health practices, which is why it is so important to prioritise education, awareness, and action regarding menstrual hygiene.
"Understanding the basic facts related to the menstrual cycle is key to teaching our young women on how to manage it with confidence and dignity. As healthcare professionals, it is our responsibility to bridge this knowledge gap and destigmatise menstruation, in hopes that this will foster a safe, open and shame-free space for all women and girls."
Find women's sanitary care at pocket friendly prices with Lazada Promo Code.