Collaborative Awareness Sessions on Menstrual Health Management & Sanitary Vending Machine Operation in Schools

Abdus Salam, Dinajpur Correspondent :
Islamic Relief-Canada funded “Sustainable Livelihoods Development of the Extreme Poor Communities (SUPPORT)” Project of Islamic Relief Bangladesh (IRB), being implemented in Nawabganj Upazila of Dinajpur, has introduced an innovative solution by providing five sanitary vending machines among adolescent girls in remote, poverty-prone five schools to improve menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls, ensure timely, dignified, and secluded access to essential sanitary products. The schools are- Daudpur ML High School, Pran Krishnopur Andalgram High School, Shalkuria Dimukhi High School, Binodnagar High School and Roghunathpur Girls High School.
As part of its ongoing commitment to community well-being, the SUPPORT Project, in collaboration with Vertical Innovation Limited, organized an ‘Awareness Session on Menstrual Health Management’ at five remote schools under 05 Unions of Nawabganj Upazila, facilitated by Vertical Innovation’s resource persons. A total of 275 participants attended the session, comprising schoolgirls and teachers and Sanitary Vending Machine Operational Committee.
Through the sessions the adolescent girls were equipped with essential knowledge on menstrual health management while also providing practical guidance on the use and operation of sanitary vending machines. This effort aims not only to normalize discussions around menstruation but also to ensure that the intervention is effectively sustained within schools.