Page 38 - MHM Report-2023
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Success of Sakhis:
Building community outreach
or Sonal Kanwar from Lotana village in me. Women approach me frequently for advice on
Rajasthan’s Sirohi district, menstruation menstruation problems and it feels good to see
Fwas a difficult topic to discuss. This them talk about it with their families.”
changed after September 2018, when Sonal began Sakhis serve as the first point of contact with
training to become a sakhi (or companion) in the community. Each sakhi engages with 15-20
the programme. As a part of the Tata Trusts’ adolescent girls and adult women, helping them
MHM community outreach work, sakhis or understand the nature of menstruation and safe
Community Resource Persons (CRPs) mobilise practices to manage it. This ensures that women
women and girls of their communities and understand why menstruation occurs and, hence,
disseminate knowledge on menstrual health are encouraged to make informed decisions. A lot
and its management. Sakhis are women chosen of emphasis is laid on having conversations about
from within the community, as the familiarity menstruation and breaking the silence associated
ensures that women and girls feel comfortable with it, which is key in practicing correct hygiene
approaching them. Women who enrol to become practices with dignity.
sakhis themselves experience a transformation Sakhis are aided by participatory tools for
in perspective. “Not only did I realise that there session delivery to ensure that the learning
is nothing wrong with talking openly about process becomes interesting and key information
menstruation, I also learned why it’s important is not missed. Beneficiaries are provided
for women to do so,” Sonal says. handbooks in the form of a comic strip that
In distant Assam, fellow sakhi Malaya Das enables them to understand menstruation
voices a similar sentiment. “The training cleared and related information in a fun way. The
up several misconceptions in my mind about illustrations are colourful to grab attention, and
menstruation,” says the 23-year-old from Dokoha the story is simple and relatable. This ensures
village in Nalbari district. “People’s attitudes that key learnings are not forgotten and that
have changed since I became a sakhi. I’m treated there is a point of reference to the information
with more respect and my family feels proud of and knowledge shared during the session.
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