Menstrual Guide Book Launched For Young Women To Help Break Taboos Around Female Health

EDUCATION around periods is still woefully lacking worldwide, especially for young adults at the very brink of puberty, confused and in terror of all the new changes happening to their bodies and minds. To help educate and empower women of all ages and remove the stigma surrounding menstruation, INTIMINA has today launched a book for young girls that have just entered or are to enter womanhood.

INTIMINA's "The Wonder Girls Guide Book" aims to fill up the hole left by inadequate educational programs, shame and taboos around periods, to strike up the conversation about an entirely normal part of growing up. The book is created for ages 11 to 12 and it tells the stories of trials and tribulations strong young women experience because of their changing, growing bodies.

Each story, whose main characters are introduced through vivid and colourful illustrations by a budding Artist and Designer, Antonija Bačić, provides both the situational learning experience and information about menstruation with practical advice on how to avert unpleasant situations.

Through the characters' dialogues, the book's heroes learn the importance of open communication among:- friends, parents, understanding, tolerance, mutual support, protection, courage, altruism, authenticity, and assertiveness. The situations described in the stories provide models for respectful, understanding conversations between parents and their pubescent children.

Ending the period stigma is a goal that can best be achieved by starting small; in the playgrounds, School hallways, locker rooms, everywhere where young people share their intimate lives. It's essential normal human functions remain just that; normal, and that every conversation revolving around natural growth should feel empowering rather than embarrassing.

Danela Žagar, INTIMINA Global Brand Manager said:- "With this book, INTIMINA continues its mission to help women live fulfilling lives without being stigmatized by natural things like menstruation. This time we focused on young women as we want to help them enter womanhood without fear and advise them on dealing with possibly difficult and embarrassing situations concerning menstruation. We believe this book will also be of great help to many parents that still haven't sat down with their daughters and sons to explain all the changes puberty brings."

The online version of The Wonder Girls Guide Book is available as a gift with purchase above ₤40 on:- Intimina.Com.

Cheshire and Merseyside health leaders launch drive to help Ethnic Communities feel safe about Covid19 Vaccine following findings from insight research

CHESHIRE and Merseyside NHS is teaming up with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to launch a campaign promoting vaccine safety. Using insight from local research, representatives from ethnic communities will address questions about the vaccine in a series of radio adverts, posters and social media adverts planned across the local area. Findings from the research carried out in Cheshire and Merseyside are also being shared with senior health and social care leaders, to help ensure everyone has all the facts around the vaccine and nobody gets left behind.

Roseamma George, a senior NHS Nurse and Sefton resident, said:- "Just like with polio and smallpox, vaccinations are vital in eradicating viruses and keeping people safe, and it's important that people know it's not just their own lives they are protecting by getting the vaccine, but the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities. It is normal for people to have concerns in times like these, but so far millions of people have received their 1st dose and there has been no evidence of widespread negative effects. As an NHS worker I am incredibly proud to be able to continue to care for the people within the local community, and I urge everyone to help play their part in helping the NHS protect and save lives and get the vaccine."

The research surveyed people across the Region from ethnic communities to develop an in depth understanding of their experiences of Covid19 and their views towards the vaccination. It found that concerns about efficacy and fear of potential side effects are among the top reasons why 33% of minority ethnic communities in Cheshire and Merseyside are reluctant to take the Covid19 vaccine. Although overall uptake of the vaccine amongst the 1st four priority groups is now just under 90%, the uptake is lower amongst some ethnic minority communities, which the local NHS says is a concern, given the fact that these communities are being disproportionately affected by the virus.

Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said:- "As we work through vaccinating our Sefton residents in order of priority it is vital that we address the concerns of those worried about having the vaccine for the reasons highlighted from this research. It is more important than ever that we reassure people and I hope that this targeted campaign across Cheshire and Merseyside will help, using the voices of those in Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in the Region to alleviate the concerns others might have and encourage them to get their vaccine."

Dr Linda Charles Ozuzu, Regional Director of Commissioning for NHS England and NHS Improvement and Senior Responsible Officer for the Covid19 vaccination programme in the North West, said:- "It is vital that everyone who is at a higher risk of infection has the right information and are reassured about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Tens of thousands of people from the Cheshire and Merseyside patch, who identify themselves as being from an ethnic minority backgrounds and are eligible, have already had one dose of the vaccine and this is really positive."

The study, which was co-funded by Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England and Cheshire and Merseyside's Directors of Public Health, surveyed 636 people from across Cheshire and Merseyside.