P&G Whisper and UNESCO India have collaborated to launch menstrual health and hygiene campaign in Bengaluru, with a focus on providing education and resources to young girls and women, including those with disabilities.

P&G Whisper & UNESCO’s Menstrual Health and Hygiene Campaign: An Empowering Step Towards Gender Equality

The P&G Whisper and UNESCO’s collaborative efforts in launching the Menstrual Health and Hygiene Campaign in Bengaluru are a promising step towards empowering women and promoting gender equality in India. The shocking fact that one out of five girls drop out of school due to a lack of period education and products is an urgent issue that needs immediate attention.

Whisper’s efforts over the last 30 years in driving menstrual education, distributing free pads, and debunking period-related myths and taboos are praiseworthy. Educating and providing pads to more than 10 crore girls and mothers in India is a significant achievement that displays the company’s commitment to the cause.

The new teaching-learning modules developed by UNESCO India with Whisper are comprehensive resources that can empower adolescents from diverse backgrounds, including girls with disabilities, by providing them access to period and puberty education. Moreover, these modules aim to create a supportive environment through interventions at the school, state, and national levels, enabling these adolescents to continue their education.

The National Survey and Gap Analysis report on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management under the #KeepGirlsinSchool campaign is an eye-opener that reveals that in poor urban areas, 50% of adolescent girls lack access to hygienic methods for managing their periods. This report highlights the urgent need for such campaigns that aim to promote menstrual health and hygiene management.

The presence of Special Guest of Honour – Ms Rupali Ganguly, Indian Actress, Guest of Honour – B. B. Cauvery, State Project Director, Samagra Shikshana Karnataka, and Dr. Akkai Padmashali- transgender rights activist, at the event showcases the social importance of such initiatives. The event’s attendance of more than 220 people, including girl students, teachers from various schools in Hyderabad, along with civil society organizations, underlines the communities’ support towards menstrual health and hygiene education.

The comprehensive survey and gap analysis report showcased by UNESCO and the short films portraying different dimensions of Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management effectively shed light on the diverse experiences and perspectives related to this vital subject matter, spanning across seven states in India. The empowering “Pride of Period Anthem” presented during the event is a promising step towards breaking down barriers and eliminating stigma surrounding periods.

In conclusion, the P&G Whisper & UNESCO Menstrual Health and Hygiene Campaign showcase a collective effort towards promoting gender equality and empowering women in India. Such initiatives aiming to create a supportive environment for adolescents from diverse backgrounds should be lauded, and more campaigns aimed towards menstrual health and hygiene education should be encouraged.

P&G Whisper & UNESCO Collaborates to launch Menstrual Health and Hygiene Campaign in Bengaluru

1 out of 5 girls in India drop out of school due to lack of period education and products. Mothers are a girl’s first teacher, but reports say 7 out of 10 mothers do not fully understand the science of periods and find it ‘dirty or impure’. Whisper, over the last 30 years, have been driving menstrual education, distributing free pads, and debunking period related myths and taboos. They have educated and given pads to more than 10 crore girls and mothers in India.

To address menstrual education and hygiene management further, P&G Whisper and UNESCO India joined forces with Gender Equality and Integrated Holistic Health working groups of C20 India at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Bengaluru campus with the support of Omnex to raise awareness, particularly among women, including young girls attending school. An event was organized introducing five teaching-learning modules developed by UNESCO India with Whisper, these modules are tools to drive menstrual health and hygiene management for educators, young adults, persons with disability, with focus on gender, and nutrition.

Titled “Spotlight Red,” the teaching-learning modules offer comprehensive resources and strategies for learners, educators, menstruators, and community leaders. Their purpose is to enhance understanding and skills related to menstruation management while fostering awareness about its societal impact. The modules aim to empower adolescents from diverse backgrounds, including girls with disabilities, by providing them with access to period and puberty education. Moreover, they seek to create a supportive environment through interventions at the school, state, and national levels, enabling these adolescents to continue their education.

P&G Whisper and UNESCO India also launched a National Survey and Gap Analysis report on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management under the #KeepGirlsinSchool campaign. The report revealed that in poor urban areas, 50% of adolescent girls (aged 15 to 19) lack access to hygienic methods for managing their periods. More than 220 people attended the event, including girl students, teachers from various schools in Hyderabad, along with civil society organizations.

Distinguished guests attending the launch included Special Guest of Honour – Ms Rupali Ganguly, Indian Actress, Guest of Honour – B. B. Cauvery, State Project Director, Samagra Shikshana Karnataka, and Dr. Akkai Padmashali-transgender rights activist. Also present at the event was Dr Manoj P- Dean School of Business and Campus Director, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeethum, Dr. Huma Masood, Senior Gender Specialist at UNESCO India and Ms. Kruti Desai, Communication Head, Whisper P & G.

Actress Rupali Ganguly who was present to support the Whisper’s Keep Girls in School campaign said, “Today, 1 in 5 girls drop out of school due to a lack of menstruation education and products. Shockingly, 70% of girls are unaware of periods when they first experience them. Even mothers who are girl’s closest friends, teachers, lack knowledge about the science of periods. I take immense pride in collaborating with Whisper and UNESCO to unveil inclusive and exhaustive teaching modules. All of us can be changemakers and contribute in our own small ways to ensure that the daughters of this country can attend school and experience their first period without confusion or embarrassment. They should be able to live, play, and study with confidence and comfort. I am glad that I got the chance to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene and health and be the changemaker.”

Dr. Huma Masood, Gender Specialist at UNESCO New Delhi Multisectoral Regional Office, stated, “Spotlight Red – A UNESCO and P&G Whisper initiative, #KeepGirlsinSchool, is a comprehensive approach to address the urgent need for menstrual health and hygiene management in schools. With 23 million girls dropping out annually due to lack of proper facilities and information, we combine education and advocacy to empower every learner and menstruator.”

During the event, UNESCO showcased a comprehensive survey and gap analysis report, accompanied by a series of short films that effectively portrayed different dimensions of Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management. These films shed light on the diverse experiences and perspectives related to this vital subject matter, spanning across seven states in India. To further break down barriers and eliminate stigma surrounding periods, an empowering “Pride of Period Anthem” was also presented, fostering a more promising and inclusive future for all individuals who menstruate.