Published Nov 17, 2022 | 5:01 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 17, 2022 | 5:52 PM
According to the National Family Health Survey-5, about 17 percent of young women between the ages of 15-24 use cloth as napkins. (Creative Commons)
The Telangana government will provide sanitary napkins to girls studying in classes 8 to 12 in government schools and junior colleges across the state.
The move will benefit about 11 lakh students, the health department said on Thursday, 17 November, adding that the scheme has received the government’s administrative sanction.
As many as 33 lakh Adolescent Health Kits will be distributed among girl students over the next 18 months. The health department will distribute 11 lakh kits for the remaining six months of the current academic year. Each kit will have a zipper bag, water bottle and six packets of sanitary napkins.
The department will provide 22 lakh kits, including 12 packets of napkins, in the 2023-24 academic year.
In #Telangana, 17 percent of women in the age group of 15-24 wear clothes for menstrual protection.
Source: NFHS-5@TheSouthfirst pic.twitter.com/fnm7cDFNEi— Sumit Jha (@sumitjha__) November 17, 2022
The health department added that the health kits will be purchased and distributed at a cost of ₹69.52 crore, funded by the National Health Mission.
“In the circumstances reported by the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare & Mission Director, National Health Mission(NHM), Hyderabad, the administrative sanction is hereby accorded for an amount of ₹69.52 crore towards procurement and distribution of Adolescent Health Kits to girl students studying in classes eight to Intermediate (2nd Year) in government schools and government colleges under the adolescent health program,” read the Government Order No. 674 by SAM Rizvi, Secretary, Department of Health.
According to the National Family Health Survey-5, about 17 percent of young women aged between 15 and 24 use clothes as napkins. The usage of clothes causes uterine and urinary tract infections.
“Keeping in mind the usage of clothes during the menstrual period, the government has decided to distribute health and hygienic kits. Adolescent girls aged 14 to 19 will be distributed the kits to maintain cleanliness during menstruation. This will enable them to stay healthy and pay more attention to their studies. It will also help in increasing their attendance percentage,” the health department said in a statement.
During the budget session in February this year, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said that arrangements were being made for the distribution of adolescent health kits free of charge in government schools and colleges.
