Community Initiative Brings Menstruation Education to Students - 20 October 2026

Oct 21, 2026

Uploaded by SANS

Kitaran Kita is a Malaysian community initiative focused on menstrual health education and improving young girls’ access to menstrual hygiene products. The program highlights how period poverty extends beyond affording sanitary pads, including clean toilets, water, proper facilities, and accurate information. It describes actions such as establishing a pad bank at a school, corporate support for continuous supplies, and a school awareness session addressing myths versus facts. Key medical guidance covers warning signs and when to seek professional advice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Community Initiative and Purpose

Access to Products and Education

Pad Bank and Support Approach

School Programme and Participants

Medical Guidance and Warning Signs

Myths, Exercise, and When to Seek Care

SEKTOR DOKUMENTASI PENDIDIKAN BPPDP, Kementerian Pendidikan Aras SB-4, Blok E8, Kompleks E, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan 62604 Putrajaya. Tel : 03-8884 6425 Faks : 03-8884 6284 TARIKH : 20 OKTOBER 2026 (SELASA) BERITA HARIAN □- UTUSAN M'SIA O N. STRAITS TIME O THE STAR c::zf SINAR HARIAN 0 Community initiative brings menstruation . , education to student$: However, severe symptoms should not be dismissed as nor By LOW CO SIN [cosin.low@thestar.com.my](cosin.low@thestar.com.my) [fi{M](fi{M) ';,􀀃f ,􀀂 i2.i. f4-".\ FOR some w6men struggling to · make ends meet, the monthly cost of sanitary pads is a big burden. Kitaran Kita project lead Adriana Tasnim learnt this when visiting underprivileged communities in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. This prompted her to raise awareness about period poverty, and the need for better access to menstrual hygiene products. Kitaran Kita is a community initiative aimed at promoting menstrual health education and improving access to.nenstrual hygiene products among young girls in Malaysia. "One woman told me she knew of women who were willing to get pregnant because they would not · have to spend money on sanitary pads for nine months," said Adriana. ''They were thinking about how to survive in the short term and could not think about the long .term cost of raising a child." A final-year English language and literature student at the International Islamic University Malaysia, Adriana said period poverty went beyond the inability to afford sanitary pads. "It also involves access to clean toilets, water, proper menstrual hygiene facilities and accurate information." She recalled visiting-a primary school in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, where some pupils from People's Housing Programme (PPR) com- .· munities could not afford sanitary pads. She subsequently set up a "pad bank" at the school toilet, supplying four boxes of sanitary pads for pupils to use when needed. Adriana said period poverty could cause girls to miss school, stressing that sustainable programmes were needed instead of one-off distributions. Corporate sponsorship could help ensure a continuous supply of menstrual products in schools, she said, urging parents, including fathers, to learn about menstrual health and support their daughters. · "Menstrual education is something everyone should know. It isnot just a women's issue. "Sometimes men are willing to help, but they do not knowhow because women are not comfertable telling them what they need,"she said. Adriana also cautioned young people against relying solely on social media for medical information, as the videos were not necessarily accurate. Her concerns were among the issues addressed during the Kitaran Kita menstrual health awareness programme at SMK Convent Green Lane attended by 178 Form One female students. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery graduate KC Sharveeni, who conducted the session, said misconceptions about menstruation continued to leave young girls confused about their menstrual health. ''These include the belief that menstruation is dirty, physical activity should be avoided and severe cramps are normal." Sharveeni said such myths discourage girls from discussing their period openly or seeking medical attention when they experienced unusual symptoms. She said experiences varied, with some girls experiencing cramps, bloating, headache and fatigue, while others faced mood. swings, anxiety or difficulty sleeJ)ing. mal she cautioned. "Girls should seek medical ' advice if their menstrual cycles are consistently shorter than 21_ days or longer than 35 days, or if bleeding lasts more,than seven days," she said. "Other warning signs include needing to change sanitary pads every one to two hours because of heavy bleeding, or experiencing cramps so severe that they interfere with daily activities." Girls who do not start menstruating by the age of 16 should also consult

FAQs

What does Kitaran Kita aim to achieve for students?

Kitaran Kita aims to promote menstrual health education and improve young girls’ access to menstrual hygiene products in Malaysia.

Why is period poverty more than not being able to buy sanitary pads?

It also involves limited access to clean toilets, water, proper menstrual hygiene facilities, and accurate information.

What menstrual health warning signs suggest a student should seek medical advice?

Seek medical advice if cycles are consistently shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, bleeding lasts more than seven days, heavy bleeding requires changing pads every one to two hours, cramps interfere with daily activities, or menstruation has not started by age 16.

Oct 21, 2026

Uploaded by SANS