Project Title: Menstrual Health Support in Urban Slums (MHSUS)
Project Period: April-August 2023
Reporting Period:
Project Location: Duaripara & Bhashantek Slums, Dhaka
Financial Partner: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Project Staff: 06 (F-05, M-01)
Target Beneficiaries: 3,337 girls and women of reproductive age
Objectives
- Increase practice of healthy/safe menstrual management by adolescent girls and women of reproductive age
- Increase adolescent girls’ and women’s knowledge regarding MHH
- Increase positive attitudes towards healthy /safe MHM
- Sensitize shopkeepers and other stakeholders regarding the need of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age for MHM.
Major Activities and Achievements
- Capacity development of Staff: Fourteen staff from Alapon Helpline and MHSUS project received facilitation training to train participants on the concept of Menstrual Hygiene Management. Training included various topics i.e. Concept of menstruation, stigmas about menstruation and healthy management of menstruation period. Furthermore, the project arranged a day-long technical training for 20 shop owners on using a new application developed for the Shop owners’ to manage MHM materials sales data on the basis of the recommendation of UNFPA and CWFD.
- Sanitary Pad, T-shirt, umbrella and sticker Distribution: Sanitary pads, Nonwoven bags, Mark up costs, Soap, and Toilet Tissue were distributed among 2,800 beneficiaries at Duaripara and Bhashantek from 19 June to 20 Au gust 2023. T-Shirt & Umbrella were distributed to the beneficiaries during this project period.
- Signboard and Sticker installation: Signboards and stickers were installed to disseminate messages among people to make them aware. Twenty (Duaripara-9, Bhasantek-11) signboards were installed in front of the shops and 10 (Duaripara-4, Bhasantek-6) were installed in the open crowded area with stickers containing message dissemination.
- Coordination Meetings with Shop Owners: A day-long refresher training on Menstrual Health Management and MOU signing with the shop owners were held. The main objective was to ensure the smooth distribution of sanitary pads, non woven bags, and IEC materials and the skill of facilitators to facilitate some specific sessions
- SBCC training to beneficiaries: A total of 2,904 beneficiaries out of 3,337 beneficiaries were trained during the year 2023. They were trained on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management. The main discussion points were changes during puberty, knowledge on menstruation and hygiene management during menstrual period, myths about menstruation, proper use of menstrual pads and disposal system, different ways of staying connected with each other and sharing the right messages about menstruation.
