Climate Resilence and female health

Menstrual Hygiene & Women’s Health: Why It Matters

Vatrukh Foundation recognizes menstrual hygiene and comprehensive female health as essential components of climate resilience. By promoting access to safe menstrual products, climate resilient sanitation, health education, and community led dialogue, the Foundation works to ensure that women and girls can manage their health with dignity even in the face of environmental uncertainty and participate fully in adaptation and recovery efforts.

Menstrual hygiene and women’s reproductive health are central to dignity, health, education,  equality, and economic independence. Yet millions of girls and women still lack access to  safe menstrual products, clean toilets, privacy, health services, and correct information.  Addressing these gaps is essential for a healthy and just society.

Why Menstrual Hygiene Is Important

1. Protects Physical Health

Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to:

  • Reproductive and urinary tract infections
  • Skin irritation and rashes
  • Untreated infections that may affect fertility
  • Anaemia due to unmanaged heavy bleeding

Safe hygiene helps prevent illness and improves wellbeing.

2. Supports Mental & Emotional Wellbeing

Silence, stigma, and shame cause:

  • Anxiety and low self-esteem
  • Embarrassment and social withdrawal
  • Reluctance to seek medical help

Normalising periods builds confidence and dignity.

3. Keeps Girls in School

Many girls miss school during periods due to:

  • Lack of pads, toilets, or water
  • Fear of staining and teasing
  • Pain and discomfort

This leads to learning loss and drop-outs. Safe facilities help girls stay in school.

4. Promotes Gender Equality

When girls and women don’t have access to:

  • Pads or menstrual products
  • Safe and private toilets
  • Waste disposal systems
  • Clean water

their mobility, participation, and dignity suffer. Menstrual hygiene is a human rights issue.

5. Strengthens Families & the Economy

Women’s health problems affect:

  • Work attendance
  • Productivity
  • Household income
  • Healthy women build healthy communities.

6. Helps Detect Health Problems Early

Awareness supports early detection of:

  • PCOS & Endometriosis
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Anemia
  • Cancers (cervical, breast, ovarian)

Screening and timely care save lives.

Menstrual hygiene and women’s health are not “special issues.”
They are public health, human rights, and development priorities.
When women thrive — families, communities, and nations thrive.

Your contribution helps us reach vulnerable communities faster, support ongoing relief programs, and create long-term change.

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