Physicians and journalists on Monday underscored for the menstrual health management (MHM) to ensure equal access to health facilities for women, especially school girls in remote and rural areas.
They made these observations at an online training progroamme for journalists on MHM and related equity and inclusion issues including sessions on WASH/MHM related journalism.
The programme was arranged by Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) in cooperation with Unnayan Shahojogy Team (UST).
Prof Dr Nazmul Haq, Chairman, Department of Physiology of Northern International Medical College and Hospital (NIMCH) was the keynote speaker while Kazi Rafique, News Editor, Sangbad, presided over the event.
WSSCC National Coordinator Shah Md Anowar Kamal and UST Director Md Tazzamel Haque spoke at the training session attended by over 30 journalists from Dhaka city and all eight divisions.
Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) President Rafiqul Islam Azad, said:”MHM is not a separate issue, we’ll are related through our families.”
He suggested providing training, motivation to high school teachers, community and religious leaders including local representatives in this regard.
Journalist Bonani Mullick underscored filing case studies from remote and rural area about menstrual health management.
Attending the programme from Khulna, UNB Correspondent Sheikh Didarul Alam informed that several steps have been taken at school levels for ensuring hygiene facilities.
The journalists spoke on addressing and picking up news from grass roots related to menstrual hygiene management.
Meanwhile, the event focused on raising voice from root to top level as well as in policy making stage through various media write-ups and reports about the real situations and struggle of the people.
Besides, menstrual management and hygiene practice related equity and inclusion into the society regarding breaking the silence was also underscored at the event.
Keynote speaker Prof Haq said: “Hygiene crisis in our villages are from the ancient ages. Now is the time to take action and fight against all taboos and break the silence regarding raising voice for sexual reproductive rights.”
“I’m proud of my mother that she menstruated and it was the first step for me to be born into this world,” he added.
