A Brief Report

A Brief Report

Safe & Healthy Menstruation

(a self-help & empowerment of women-kind)

On the mutal understanding of SUNGI Development Foundation & the Resource Centre for Development Alternatives (RCDA), we have designed & conducted a two days training workshop on 'Safe & Healthy Menstruation' for the female staff of SUNGI held in Omar Asghar Centre for Development (OACD) during 15 & 16 February 2006.

The real objectives of this workshop were:

To familiarise participants with organic health approaches towards menstrual difficulties & conscious living used succesfully in most parts of the world;

To become aware of how our body really works & generate the person's own self-healing capability;

To encourage SUNGI's key staff to incorporate the organic concepts of reproductive health & practices into their health programmes;

To formulate practical strategies & recommendations for further dissemination of these organic health concepts to the grassroot communities;

To contribute towards the Goal 3 (promote gender equality and empower women) & Goal 5 (improve maternal health) of the Millennium Declaration (MDGs).

Some 22 female staff of SUNGI zonal offices were present. The following contents (organic concepts) were taught to the participants:

DAY ONE

Our Introduction & the Orientations;

The Menstrual Cycle: Anatomy & Physiology of Reproductive System;

Misconceptions & Social Taboos about Menstruation;

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS);

Menstrual Disorders: Irregular Periods, and Absent Periods (Amenorrhoea);

Menstrual Disorders: Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia).

DAY TWO

Menstrual Disorders: Painful Periods (Dysmenorrhoea) - Part I & II;

The Issue of Leucorrhoea: Vaginal Infection;

Natural Protection Material & Hygiene;

Holistic Lifestyle & Natural Diet for Healthy Menstruation;

Formulation of Strategies & Recommendations: two working groups will develop plans of actions on how to make these organic health concepts more sustainable on 1. an individual level? 2. an institutional & community level?

Through BOM coloured charts & transparencies, flip charts, interactive presentations, use of art (devotional & refreshing songs), small group works, case studies, and experience sharing the basic organic concepts of reproductive health components were explained to them in a simple & comprehensive way.

Output of the Working Group No. 1 (Flip Charts)

A) Strategies & Recommendations on how to make these organic concepts more sustainable on individual level:

* Action and experience sharing;

* Information sharing and spreading the word;

* Individual initiative;

* Move from conventional practices to natural methods by saying no to chemicals and yes to natural healing process;

* Keep our eyes open and meditate on changing process.

B) Strategies & Recommendations on how to make these organic concepts more sustainable on institutional & community level:

* New policy on women's health and its implementation;

* Training programme on women's health;

* Publications on women's health issues and its distribution;

* New health committee within the set-up of women organisations;

* Trainings on 'reproductive health' and 'sexual health';

* Check the real needs of the women issues in the community health centres.

Output of the Working Group No. 2 (Flip Charts)

A) Strategies & Recommendations on how to make these organic concepts more sustainable on individual level:

* Sessions should be organised and conduct in the VC meetings, ACC meetings, CHWs, BHU staff, and LHWs;

* Share with female staff who were not here in training;

* Trained staff (CHC) shall conduct session in community and at least two staff members should conduct in group;

* Pamphelts, pictures, charts, handouts, role play;

* Follow-ups of these sessions/trainings and then case studies;

* Session should be organised in the community (camp);

* School health sessions in girls schools (middle+high).

B) Strategies & Recommendations on how to make these organic concepts more sustainable on institutional & community level:

* Trainings should be organised on

1. Natural family planning methods;

2. Puberty age problems & their solutions;

3. Pregnancy related problems (safe delivery);

4. Refreshers for the female staff;

5. Our male staff should get an orientation on 'Creating Health through the Menstrual Cycle' in order to know the special needs of the female staff working in the fields;

6. Firs-aid training;

7. Sexual transmitted diseases.

The evaluation took place from the very beginning of the workshop, so that every one had a chance to contribute. During the workshop, a little time was given to the participants after every session for revision & question answering. The tools used to monitor progress & impact were pre-training self-assessment, reflection on activity of the day, and post-training evaluation filled questionnaire & feedback of trainees.

The immediate impact of this training was evident in the many warm comments as well as light-hearted remarks made throughout the workshop. What participants had to say about this training are summarized below:

Verbal Comments Among the Participants

* This kind of workshop is a need of the hour;

* We have to teach others what we are leaning;

* Leucarrhoea was a big problem but now we have a good knowledge about it;

* All the concepts are appealing;

* The workshop environment is very pleasing;

* For the first time we are getting such a deep knowledge about menstruation;

* We had a very negative thought about menstruation but now our feelings are very positive about this matter;

* We were of the believe that the commercial pads are much better than home-made napkins but now we realise that this is not true and there are much chemicals used in commercial pads which are not safe for our internal health;

* Now we recognised the key role of healthy nutrition for our normal menstruation;

* Our education & environment have infused negative thinking into our minds but now we feel changed;

* Our trainer has a good command on her knowledge & her style is so pleasant that no one could disturb the environment of the workshop by talking with each other during the sessions;

* Last evening I went to bazar and bought enough fresh vegetables & nuts and asked my sister to cook the turnip (shaljam) without peeling it (not removing the skin);

* We got to know that we should also give enough attention to our selves;

* If ourselves are healthy our work/outputs are healthy and the development is good.

* If we act upon the things we have learned now, our life can become changed;

* Our demands for natural things will be an attraction for the future producers of natural goods;

* I have many things on the reproductive health as a health worker but this workshop creates new insights into me;

* We never gave an importance on what & how we eat but now we are aware to give importance to this component;

* Your transparencies, successful traditional practices, and modern holistic research findings make a good combination in understanding the basic concepts of this workshop;

* Our own experiences proved that traditional wisdoms are more effective & sustainable than the allopathic drugs;

* It is the first time to get such a thorough knowledge on the platform of SUNGI;

* Before training our faces were like KK but after training we are looking as JJ

Feedback Questionnaire: Written Comments from the Participants

* Before training I was not clear about reproductive system, now I know that this process is a part of our life;

* Menstrual disorders and the issue of Leucorrhoea still needs more time. Obviously, this training give us a new feeling and will help us to improve our health;

* My vision towards reproductive health is now positive;

* Now I clearly know about my menstrual cycle;

* Things are now more clear, many issues are resolved which are related to the reproductive health;

* Before this training menstruation was a burden for me but now I feel much better;

* I learnt a lot and able to replicate it with my colleagues / community;

* I am now very much clear about my assumptions & fears;

* I have changed my mind to positive direction & got more clearity about my reproductive system. This will help me resolving my problems;

* We should also get trained in the natural family planning methods;

* In responding to the question of how closely did the training meet your real needs & expectations, some 70 % said 'Excellent' and 30 % with 'Average';

* In responding to the question of how do you rate the contents of the workshop, some 70 % said 'Excellent', 29 % with 'Average' and 1 % with 'Fair';

* In responding to the question of how do you rate the qualities of the trainer & her assistant, some 75 % said 'Excellent' and 25 % with 'Average';

* In responding to the question of would you like to take part in other holistic training programmes of our Resource Centre for Development Alternatives (RCDA) in the future, some 100 % said with 'Yes';

* In responding to the question of are you willing to implement these holistic health concepts in your personal life as well in your professional field & communities, some 100 % said with 'Yes'.

We are very grateful to the leadership of SUNGI Development Foundation - who offered us their platform to introduce the natural concepts of the reproductive health - as a missing element in their development work. Thanks for the organising and sponsoring the said workshop !!

Report prepared by

Amatul Wadood Nazli, Maha and Hidayatullah Neakakhtar

Resource Centre for Development Alternatives (RCDA)
Faraz House, D-237, Ghazikot-Township
Mansehra 21300, NWFP
P a k i s t a n.

Tel: 0997 - 302950
Email: rcda2000@isb.paknet.com.pk

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