Jawan, May 29: The Department of Community Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, under the leadership of Professor Uzma Eram, Chairperson, marked Menstrual Hygiene Day with a dynamic health talk at the Anganwadi Centre, Jawan Sikandpur, under the aegis of the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC). Themed “Period Friendly World”, the event focused on promoting awareness, education, and support around menstruation, especially in rural communities.
The programme commenced with an informative session by Dr. Ayushi Gupta, Junior Resident, who explained the physiology of menstruation, the importance of hygiene, and self-care practices. A model of the female reproductive system, created by junior residents, served as a valuable visual aid to enhance understanding.
Dr. Karthika P, Senior Resident, addressed the social and psychological barriers associated with menstruation. She emphasised the need to challenge taboos and encourage open conversations to eliminate stigma and shame, particularly among rural populations.
An engaging myth-buster session was conducted by Dr. Ambereen Tayyab and Dr. Alisha Nawab, interns from the 2020 batch, who effectively debunked prevalent misconceptions. The interactive nature of the session was well-received by the women and adolescent girls in attendance, who also received sanitary pads as part of the initiative.
Recognising that menstrual health is a shared responsibility, a separate awareness session was held for men, led by Dr. Shubham Upadhyay. He highlighted the biological normalcy of menstruation and encouraged men to become informed allies in promoting menstrual hygiene and breaking taboos.
The event, facilitated by Mrs. Zakiya and Mr. Tauseef, concluded a month-long campaign by the department focused on menstrual health awareness. The community participation highlighted the growing recognition that inclusive dialogue and education are key to building a truly period-friendly world.
