The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department (RD&PRD) in collaboration with Shoqpa Foundation is celebrating menstrual hygiene week across the Kargil district starting from May 23.

Volunteers from Shoqpa Foundation will be visiting 30 panchayats over the next seven days and sensitize women and adolescents about the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Day, menstrual health, and hygiene management.

On the first day, the volunteers visited Karkitchoo and Hardas in Kargil block, Wakha, and Mulbekh in Shargole block, Chiktan and Sanjak in Shakar Chiktan block, Umba and Faroona in Barsoo block of the district.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management at a global level.

Director, Shoqpa Foundation said they want to educate and aware people of sustainable menstruation and how is it important for women to take care of their health before anything else so that they can excel in whatever field they are in. In developing countries, women's choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by the costs, availability, and social norms. Adequate sanitation facilities and access to feminine hygiene products are one part of the solution. Creating a culture that welcomes discussion and makes adequate education for women and girls is of equal importance.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is an occasion for publicizing information in the media, including social media. Public information campaigns can help to engage decision-makers in policy dialogue. The day provides an opportunity to actively advocate for the integration of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) into global, national, and local policies and programs.