Choubey launches menstrual hygiene campaign

Ahead of International Womens Day, Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey today launched a menstrual hygiene campaign -- "#Yes I Bleed" -- for creating awareness.
The minister stressed that the matter should be linked with the government's "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" programme.
He said that only 12 per cent of women in the country have access to sanitary napkins and 90 per cent of those napkins are made of plastic which are not only harmful for environment but also for the body.
He further said that young girls and women in rural areas have to suffer from infections as they do not have access to appropriate napkins, which can also turn fatal for their lives.

"It is the human right of women to have access to basic facilities like sanitary napkins during menstruation," Choubey said.
Expressing concern over drop-out of girls from schools due to various problems they face during menstruation, he stressed the need for a nationwide awareness programme on the subject.
The campaign, "#Yes I Bleed", which is aimed at creating holistic approach to the issue of menstruation and eliminate all myths, superstitions and orthodox thinking surrounding it, was launched at Amity University.
International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8 every year.