We are delighted to share that a recent study got published in BMC Health Research Policy and Systems, authored by Ms Shyama Desaraju and co-authored by one PhD scholar, Ms Nishisipa Panda who is being funded by ACCESS Health International and InOrder, The Health Systems Institute, for her doctoral research work under the guidance of Dr. Bhuputra Panda, Professor of Public Health, KIIT-DU and Senior Advisor, ACCESS Health International.
The paper, titled Policy to Practice: Insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, India, examines the Khushi programme, a state-led initiative launched in 2018 to provide free sanitary napkins to schoolgirls.
The research provides valuable insights into:
- Systemic bottlenecks in micro-planning, supply chain, and monitoring.
- The need for stronger interdepartmental coordination between health and education sectors.
- Importance of capacity building for frontline implementers.
- The way forward- integrating awareness-building, menstrual hygiene–compliant infrastructure, and sustainable products into the programme.
This study underscores the importance of moving beyond distribution to designing a comprehensive menstrual health strategy that ensures dignity, equity, and long-term behavioural change among adolescent girls.
Read the full article here: https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12961-025-01316-w