Women\'s health ignored during floods

Every year in monsoon flash floods occur in some parts of the country due to increase in water levels of the surrounding rivers. As the floods hit several districts and people get affected, relief operations by the government and voluntary organizations get underway to help the flood affected people. Food and essential medicines are distributed among them.
We often forget that women and girls require special attention as their health and sanitation become more vulnerable during the disaster.  According to Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014, almost half of the female population are aged between 10 to 45 years and if we ignore their health and hygiene, the risk become greater.
Most of the relief programmes run by the government, NGOs and other voluntary organizations mainly focus on providing food and clothes or other medical assistance, but sanitary napkins or contraceptives (for those who were using any) for women are not considered. Women and girls are more vulnerable than males during the disaster and greater attention should be paid to their health. Keeping oneself properly maintained during menstruation and collecting the contraceptives become harder. Some voluntary organizations have already come up with providing sanitary napkins. But still the government and NGOs are not coming forward to provide required support for sanitary napkins and contraceptive products for girls and women.  
Our National Women Development Policy 2011 clearly stated that during disaster, sanitation and hygiene of women should get priority and there should be adequate supply of required materials. It is the time when we should focus on this policy statement as floods this year have prolonged.
Afroja Yesmin
Development Worker and Women Deliver Youth Scholar
[email protected]