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.
In conjunction with Menstrual Hygiene Day, which is observed globally on May 28, 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 infrastructure 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, has caused a wide health gap in our lower-income communities.
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 spent time with the community there and provided educational tips on maintaining good menstrual hygiene.
Aurelius Healthcare is also working with the Department of Environment (Jabatan Alam Sekitar) on its Kempen Hindari Penggunaan Plastik Sekali Guna, to educate the public on the proper disposal of menstrual health products as well as other environmentally friendly alternatives.
The education and awareness campaign is spread across educational institutions in Negeri Sembilan, with activities such as health talks with doctors from Aurelius Hospital Nilai, educational posters and leaflets in schools, an ‘Adopt-A-School’ program that supplies sanitary care products to students, and more.
Dr Darshini Kumaravelo, CEO at Aurelius Hospital Nilai, said: We aim to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene, address challenges in accessing menstrual health products, break the taboo and end the stigma surrounding menstruation.” — The Health
