Adivasi Mahila Pragathi - program for promotion of health and hygiene of tribal and rural women by promoting regular use of sanitary napkins and supply of affordable sanitary napkins in tribal and rural areas of East Godavari district.

The project aims to address the issue of women’s knowledge, facilities and environment to hygienically manage menstruation. Even though it comes under the CSR thematic area of WASH, it has not received the attention it deserves by WASH practitioners within WASH. Further, the gap between rural and urban women broadens considerably in terms of menstrual hygiene mostly due to lack of awareness, last-mile access and affordability. There is established correlation between menstrual management and school dropout. Similarly, poor menstrual hygiene can lead to fungal infection, urinary and reproductive tract infections and even HPV which can cause cancer.

The objective of the project is to educate tribal and rural girls and women on comprehensive menstrual hygiene management, dispel myths and remove taboo around menstruation, facilitate access to affordable sanitary napkin leading to use of sanitary napkin among instead of unhygienic methods in vogue. It is expected to serve the purpose of improved attendance among tribal girls and help tribal women from missing workdays due to menstruation.

• Adolescent girls and women from tribal communities to benefit
• Girls and women will receive information about menstrual hygiene management which will foster more understanding and decrease social stigma associated with menstruation in the schools and community
• Knowledge and understanding of girls on menstrual hygiene will be enhanced leading to improved health status, increased levels of confidence and active involvement of girls in school and community.
• Will have positive impact on health status of girls through improved menstrual hygiene by using sanitary pads
• AWARE Health & Research Foundation has developed its own brand of sanitary napkin which is very well accepted by the girls and women who are happy with the quality and comfort of the product.