Empowering Hearing-Impaired Adolescents with Menstrual Health Education: A Life Waves Program by Hindustan Zinc

Udaipur: Under the Life Waves program by Hindustan Zinc, over 200 hearing-impaired adolescent girls in Ajmer, Bhilwara, and Udaipur received crucial information on menstrual health and hygiene. 

The initiative aims to enhance menstrual health and hygiene, which are vital for women's and adolescents' health and empowerment. Educating girls and women about proper menstrual practices is essential for managing menstrual hygiene. To this end, two-day sessions were held at the Deaf School in Ajmer, the Hearing and Speech Impaired Higher Secondary School and Nilayam Blind School in Bhilwara, and the Abhilasha Special School in Udaipur. The awareness sessions were conducted in Indian Sign Language by skilled trainers from the Noida Deaf Society, who are adept at addressing the specific needs of hearing-impaired and mute individuals.

The sessions aimed to increase awareness among deaf girls in grades three through twelve, promoting a positive understanding of menstruation as a normal bodily process. They also focused on dispelling common myths and misconceptions about menstrual hygiene management. The program educated girls about maintaining proper hygiene during their menstrual cycle, encouraged them to avoid taking any medication without a doctor's prescription, and aimed to boost their confidence in managing their menstrual health. This approach helps them focus on their education and daily activities without unnecessary worries.

Since its inception in 2017, Hindustan Zinc's Life Waves program has been dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities by providing better educational opportunities and transforming them into contributing members of their families. Over 700 visually impaired and hearing-impaired children have benefited from improved education through this program. Life Waves is committed to supporting these children in becoming self-reliant, ensuring they can lead dignified lives. Hindustan Zinc has also made commendable strides by launching sign language training for the hearing-impaired and technology-based education for the visually impaired, further strengthening their educational opportunities.