Telangana govt to distribute health kits to adolescent girls

HYDERABAD: As part of the adolescent health program, the Telangana Health and Family Welfare Department will now distribute health kits to adolescent girl students in government schools and colleges.

The Telangana state government approved Rs.69.52 crore for the procurement and distribution of Adolescent Health Kits to girl students in classes 8 to Intermediate in government schools on Thursday.

The state government will distribute six packs of sanitary napkins to girls students in 2022-23, followed by 12 packs in 2023-24. A S A M Rizvi, Telangana's Secretary for Health, issued an official GO 674 dated November 16,2022 on Thursday.

The National Family Health Survey-5 found that nearly 32 perfect of young women aged 15 to 24 use cloth as a napkin, which can lead to uterine and urinary tract infections. Hence, Telangana government decided to distribute health and hygiene kits.

The state health department has announced the purchase of 11 lakh kits for the remaining six months of the fiscal year. This kit includes six sanitary napkin packs, a water bottle, and a bag. A total of 22 lakh kits will be purchased for the fiscal year 2023-24. The government has stated that this programme will be included in the budget for this year.

This will benefit approximately 11 lakh female students studying in the state's government schools and junior colleges from the eighth to the twelfth grades.

These health kits will be used by adolescent girls aged 14 to 19 to help them stay clean during menstruation. This will allow them to maintain their health and, as a result, focus more on their studies. According to the state health department, it also helps to increase female student attendance.