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Updated 26 May, 2016

It's the 21st century, and we're still stashing sanitary napkins like they're liquor.

Brown-bagging sanitary products is just the tip of the iceberg. Girls and women face many, different obstacles in safe and hygiene menstrual management in Pakistan. According to a UNICEF report, the biggest challenge facing girls in poor communities is access to washing facilities, and only 20% of girls have access to sanitary products. The root cause of these problems is the taboo surrounding menstruation itself.

Berlin-based NGO Wash United launched the #MenstruationMatters campaign two years ago, to engage everyone in the effort to break the stigma around talking about menstruation, reports The Guardian. Menstrual Hygiene Day has been celebrated on May 28 since 2014.

The conversation started two days early in Pakistan.

Some understood the need to raise awareness about menstrual health:

However, others didn't get what the big deal is:

Some said it should remain a hush-hush matter:

There was also this little gem:

But thankfully, there were counter-opinions:

And some useful suggestions too:

Comments

Awesome Lyrics May 26, 2016 05:11pm
More awareness is the need of the hour, lack of education will lead to many problems.
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Ali Vazir May 26, 2016 07:01pm
This may help many: I am a father of 3 daughters. To counter it, I kept pushing my wife to discuss it with the growing up daughters. Thus they faced this transformation at not only comparatively ease, but had a senior to listen and help even before the need.
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Amir May 26, 2016 07:23pm
Grown ups are relatively well informed (in the big cities at least). The health concerns should certainly be taken seriously. But, more down the lines of everyone talking about this openly, even children, becomes a bit of a stretch. It's not even openly talked about in the West, given the sensitive nature of the subject. Also, it's a modesty issue. Men have our own issues in growth and those aren't talked about very much in public either. Again, goes back to the modesty of society, which in all is not a bad thing!
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N_Saq May 26, 2016 07:29pm
All kind of girls education is important specially health. There is nothing wrong or to be embarrassed about discussing a topic that help girls understand and then take care of their problems. Initially things seem awkward or strange that people are not used to discussing or seeing out in the open but overtime things settle down and it becomes a norm. So I personally encourage such steps, however, what Mullahs think is another story.
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Ahsan Gul May 26, 2016 07:45pm
We have the best minds and intellectuals but we are still lagging behind the semi industrial world. Our roadblocks are mullahs, political leaders . Educated minds are in minorites. Females along with males have to stand up for their rights once. Remember Iran's revolution, when public comes out on roads than defense forces cannot do anything. Because defense personnel are someone's sons and fathers.
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Jabeen May 26, 2016 08:36pm
Culture and values must be considered first!
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joe May 26, 2016 08:44pm
@Ahsan Gul Best mind and body.. Wow..can you support that statement by facts .....not given out by you bit world body..
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Khalid May 26, 2016 10:01pm
@Ali Vazir We need more father like you.I did exactly the same with my daughter. Why should a daughter not be allowed to ask her father she needs sanitary towels?. What a shame that the majority doesn't even discuss it with their daughters and they are left to discover and learn from their older friends. We are so far behind in teaching our boys and girls the responsibilities they will shoulder coming into adulthood and equip them with the knowledge they need.
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NASR May 26, 2016 10:46pm
Those who are propagating awareness for talking openly about monthly cycles in a country like Pakistan should know that in western countries it is still a stigma to discuss this topic. A survey result from Clue conducted in Feb 2016, found that most women, regardless of whether they lived in the Eastern or Western world, were uncomfortable talking to a male family member, colleague or friend about periods. The survey found women can’t even say the word “period” without someone laughing, or themselves feeling embarrassed. Because of this persisting social stigma they’ll talk about having their periods in code. Like in US visit from Aunt Flo, Swedish may say Lingonberry week, German say Strawberry week etc. etc. This natural process is a reality for 50% of the world population yet it is seldom discussed in public.
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Abdulla Hussain May 27, 2016 12:02am
I think no mother literate or illiterate ever misses imparting such education to their daughters, in case mother is not alive or not available other senior women folks of the house guides young girls properly & sufficiently. I think some open secrets are better kept secret for non relevant persons especially males.
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Khalid Latif May 27, 2016 07:14am
This is a "female health" matter; and something very private. It should be made part of girls' school and college education. Teaching of such subjects should be carried out in organised and planned manner; not openly discussed in the newspapers.
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Aamir Zuberi May 27, 2016 08:14am
Next step would be why should not a daughter ask her father about contraception or sex and this should be shared online. There are certain things which should be kept within the four walls of your house. It is how you preserve the santity of your house.
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Barkat May 27, 2016 09:09am
@Jabeen: It is OK to lie for culture & values and stone wall a person's sense of enquiry? It is because of a woman capable of menstruation we have been born and we want to hide this under the cloak of culture & values. What do you see as value in hiding the truth & nature of the body of a human being? Ok what are the results of hiding this as per " culture & values" ? Has this brought about a change in our society about the status of women for the better?
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Kabeela Khan May 27, 2016 09:21am
Menstruation matters only for women why should men bother about it.
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Ahmar Qureshi May 27, 2016 09:54am
Tweet of Kashif Moten is what I consider the best solution!
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me May 27, 2016 10:08am
why are they trying to make such a big issue about something that has been going on since the humans came to this planet. human pass feces too talk about that too, why only menses? PLEASE KEEP IT PRIVATE AND TO YOURSELF ONLY!!! DONOT MENSTRUATE IN PUBLIC. a public safety message
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Alexey May 27, 2016 10:16am
There we go again!
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Sacha Insan May 27, 2016 11:18am
Agreed...All matters shall be discussed in a healthy way and counselling needs to be done, weather its periods, masturbation or unprotected sex.... just discuss.. all needs to be sorted.
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Shahbaz Ahmed May 27, 2016 11:25am
awareness is necessary but celebrating a day does not make any sense.. culture & values must be given priority even there is nothing to be ashamed, otherwise one day we will be celebrating "Sex Day"..
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NAJEEB ULLAH KHAN ZANGI May 27, 2016 02:48pm
Education is the basic right of a girl. Educated Women will be changed the society in a good way.
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Sarfras May 27, 2016 03:24pm
Mothers and family female members are the best teachers to their daughters, not the media for such health and body issues.
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ZS May 27, 2016 06:20pm
No one known to suffer ever a serious consequence of such issues...but social media has eroded the remaining decency and respect and girls even at the most high end university displaying shamefully such matters....it is a new fad to bring LGBT, Transgender, same sex marriages and now a new addition like this?? what's wrong with the people of today in the name of "awareness" and "rights"? we have so many issues to deal with...but we always focus on least important and most sensational issues.
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Arshad Kazmi May 28, 2016 01:26am
Donald Trump's comment that Fox's Megyn Kelly was "bleeding out of her wherever" proves why we need to talk about periods and do away with the stigma and silence.
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FARAZ ZUBAIR May 28, 2016 02:03am
@Khalid Latif Well said
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Truthful from USA May 28, 2016 05:59am
@Kabeela Khan When you get married it will matter for you too.
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