May, 31, 2021
By Dr. Suranga Hettipathirana
In Sri Lanka, menstruation has more often than not been a topic spoken in hushed tones, behind closed doors and continues to be one of our culture s greatest stigmas, despite being home to a female population of 52%, 5.7 Million of whom menstruate. Therefore, poorly-informed practices related to menstrual hygiene have continued to lead to serious ailments such as toxic shock syndrome or reproductive tract infections (RTI) in many women across the island. Even armed with knowledge, only a portion of the country s menstruating population have access to secure, clean sanitary facilities and products to ensure hygiene.