Menstruation health management in Bangladesh is awfully alarming as 80 percent of girls are accustomed to using old pieces of cloth during menstruation, according to a study on the national hygiene.
The study has also found that only 40 percent of "khanas" (dwelling areas) have the facility for washing hands with soap and water after using toilet, although most people claim they are aware of proper health practices.
According to the report, about 40 percent of girls do not go to school for three days on average during their menstrual period and they reuse the old pieces of cloth without washing those in a hygienic manner or drying those properly.
In 40 percent of "khanas", it has been found that the culture of washing hands after using toilet is very poor even after there is soap and water. Besides, only 35 percent of schools have the facility for washing hand with soap and water. The preliminary survey report was released at a function in the capital's Ruposhi Bangla Hotel on Thursday.
The report has been prepared by assessing the health manners of school students at "khana" levels. In addition, it has laid emphasis on the proper health habits of doctors, nurses, restaurants, and on menstruation health of girls at national level.
The Policy Support Unit of Local Government Division (LGD) has conducted the “Baseline Survey on National Hygiene” in association with ICDDR,B.
LGD Secretary-in-Charge KM Mozammel Huq unveiled the report as chief guest, while Director General of Directorate General of Health Services Nur Hossain Talukder and Additional Secretary of LGD Zuena Aziz were present as special guests.
ICDDR,B Deputy Executive Director Abbas Bhuiyan and WaterAid Bangladesh Country Representative Dr Khairul Islam also spoke on the occasion.