Mandira Bedi says ‘Lets Talk Periods’ to raise awareness on Menstrual Hygiene Day
Pune, 28 May 2021: On Menstrual Hygiene Day, marked on 28 May (28/05) every year, did you know that 28 stands for the average length of a menstrual cycle, whereas 5 marks the average number of days of menstruation? We celebrate this day to mark the importance of menstrual hygiene, break the stigma around periods, raise awareness and change the negative mind-sets, which prevent girls and women from having a safe period. Along with several other celebrities, Mandira Bedi has also joined in to ensure girls and women residing in remote areas of Pune could maintain menstrual hygiene amidst the ongoing pandemic.
Many times, a lack of education, age old taboos and stigmas and limited or no access to hygienic menstrual products can lead to women practicing poor menstrual hygiene during their period. When girls and women apply poor menstrual hygiene, they are more conducive to infections such as that of the reproductive tract, urinary tract, Hepatitis B and more. Not only is this detrimental to the overall health and wellness of the gender, it also puts a dampener on the progress of society as we strive to bring about educational, health and overall status opportunities for girls and women across the country. It prevents millions of girls from achieving their full potential and chasing their dreams.
Outspoken actor and a champion of health and fitness, Mandira Bedi partnered with Whisper to donate sanitary napkins to young girls in the remote areas of Pune, with the help of a Pune based NGO – Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha. Founded by Dhondo Keshav Karve in 1896, the education society has been actively engaged and championed women’s education, over the years.
Mandira Bedi says, “The pandemic brought our lives to a standstill, but our periods didn’t stop. Young girls residing in the remote areas of Pune lost access to sanitary napkins and had to resort to unhygienic practices such as using pieces of cloth and cotton balls – something that no girl should resort to for a natural, biological phenomenon. To ensure girls and women have a safe period, Whisper and I got together to donate sanitary pads at an NGO in Pune. Additionally, to further empower girls to unleash her full potential especially during these testing times, I am glad to know that people across the country have also come together to support Whisper’s #KeepGirlsInSchool movement, to ensure that girls are well equipped to manage periods and don’t miss out on school or their dreams. Lets come together and help women and girls most in need get through their period with safe and hygienic protection.”
