Rawalpindi: Thursday, 26 June 2025 – To support a youth-led campaign titled “Her Health, Her Rights,” PODA, in collaboration with the District Population Office Rawalpindi, organized an awareness session for more than 60 male and female students, focusing on female hygiene—particularly menstrual, sexual, and reproductive health. The session was held at the KIOCA Seminar Hall of PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi.
Representing PODA, Nabeela Aslam briefed the participants about PODA’s work for the protection and promotion of the rights of women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other marginalized segments of society, with a special focus on the rights of rural women in Pakistan. She highlighted PODA’s flagship Annual Rural Women Leadership Training Conference, which will mark its 18th year of celebration this year. She also shared observations from the ongoing three-year project “Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality,” supported by the Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad. Through this project, a wide range of awareness activities on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are being conducted at various levels—from schools to key district government departments, including health, education, population, social welfare, and local government institutions.
During the session, she presented an oral testimony of a Grade 8 student suffering from severe health complications due to early marriage, with her kidneys now on the verge of failure. The girl faced immense physical strain as a result of being married at a young age. Nabeela Aslam also highlighted critical issues related to menstrual hygiene, including the inappropriate use of sanitary pads and unhygienic practices that lead to infections. She pointed out that many girls stop drinking water and avoid bathing during their periods, which further contributes to health problems. She emphasized the increasing cases of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by poor menstrual hygiene.
Representing the District Population Office, Dr. Anaam Mushtaq, Women Health Officer at the Family Health Clinic, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, gave a detailed presentation on UTIs and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). She stressed the importance of improved hygiene practices, considering them the foundation of women’s health.
The group leader, Asad Hayat, sought support from the Director of Student Affairs and the Aridian Health Care Society (AHCS) of PMAS Arid Agriculture University, both of whom warmly welcomed the initiative and wholeheartedly mobilized their students to participate in the session.
