SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, May 28: In a first, the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi inaugurated a Menstrual Hygiene Management Lab named Vanita in association with UNICEF and World Vision India, and jointly organised a one-day awareness programme for women patients of CIP on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The Menstrual Hygiene Management Lab was inaugurated by Parul Sharma, (OIC) Chief Field Office, UNICEF Jharkhand; Dr Laxmi Ranjan Saxena, Wash Officer UNICEF Jharkhand; and Prof (Dr) D Ram, CIP Ranchi.
Notably, this is the first of its kind initiative in the country to start a Menstrual Hygiene Management Lab in the health care sector.
Administrative officer Dr Avinash Sharma delivered the welcome address and talked about the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations, while Dr D Ram, spoke about the origin of superstitions and myths associated with menstruation.
Chief guest Parul Sharma explained the process of menstruation and how talking about menstruation can be normalized. She explained that the lack of information about the proper disposal of used sanitary napkins creates environmental problems.
Mitthu Muthu Varghese delivered a session on mental health issues associated with menstruation, such as premenstrual syndrome, with a focus on physical health before and during menstruation, while Swarna Raut, Program Manager, World Vision India had an interactive session with the patients on menstrual hygiene and myth breaking.
In keeping with the theme of MH Day 2022 ‘#We are Committed’, all the dignitaries and participants took up the Red Dot Challenge to End Period Stigma. The programme was attended by Dr Dipanjan Bhattacharjee, Hariom Pachauri, Dr Sunil Kumar Suryavanshi, Dr Suhas Ganesh, Debjani, students and residents of Psychiatry.
