DC Dimapur, CHI officials along with Principal DGC and faculty members after the launching of the MHMP at DGC on July 24. (DIPR Photo)
Dimapur, July 24 (MExN): The Dimapur District Administration in collaboration with Community Health Initiative (CHI) organised a launching ceremony of the ‘Menstrual Hygiene Management Programme in Government Schools and Colleges of Dimapur’ at Dimapur Government College on July 24.
The programme included the inauguration of a sanitary pad vending machine and incinerator at the College by the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Anoop Kinchi, IAS who had donated the same.
The DC in his address said that through MHMP, sanitary napkin machine and incinerator will be installed in all the Government schools and colleges which would be funded by the Dimapur District administration. “It will go a long way in helping the girl child of our society,” the DC maintained.
While expressing concern about health issue with regard to females, the DC said that menstrual hygiene management was a natural biological process and felt that it needs discussion and understanding including the male members of the society for resolving the issues. While mentioning MHMP as an important component of ‘Bharat Mission’, the DC emphasised on the need for creating more awareness and training programmes in which he felt that NGOs have to play an important role. He advised the CHI for working out cost effective economic model so that the program can cover many more institutions.
Dr Rhondemo Kikon from CHI while talking about the health challenges in Nagaland, pointed out isolated geography, poor infrastructure, lack of skilled health care, low percent of hospitals and health centers, low percent mother and child health care, low vaccine coverage in children as some of the challenges. Kikon also shared that the main focus of the CHI was Primary Health Care Service, Water sanitation and hygiene promotion, Nutrition and Livelihood.
Director, CHI, Loreni Sophia while highlighting on MHMP informed that menstruation taboos and stigma was still existent in India. She informed that there are 355 million menstruating women in India out of which 23 million women drops out of school annually due to lack of menstrual hygiene and management. She cited lack of sanitary napkins, lack of functional toilets and low awareness on menstruation as the main reasons for early school drop outs.
Loreni also informed that besides Dimapur Government College, the Dimapur District administration in collaboration with CHI will be extending the MHMP program to Lengrijan GHS, Nagarjan GHSS, Nepali Kashiram Sarpure GHS and Deputy Commissioner Dimapur office.
DGC Principal termed the day as momentous and welcome step for the female students numbering around 800 of DGC. He expressed gratitude to the DC Dimapur for donating the machines generously and opined that it would be an eye opener for the other schools and colleges. Out of the 15 Government colleges in Nagaland, DGC would be the first college with the facility, he informed.
Associate Professor, Meripeni Ngully chaired the programme while Assistant Professor, DGC, Moamongla Aier proposed the vote of thanks.
