The History Students Association of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang (HIMA Sejarah FISIP UNNES), through its Department of Publication, Social Affairs, and Culture, has launched PITA (Pembalut untuk Kita), or Sanitary Pads for Us, a program designed to provide easier access to menstrual products for female students who experience an unexpected period while on campus.
The initiative responds to a practical concern frequently faced by female students in their daily academic lives. Menstruation that begins unexpectedly can cause discomfort and anxiety, particularly when students are attending classes, organizational meetings, or other campus activities. In such situations, they may need to leave campus facilities to find a nearby shop or rely on friends for sanitary pads.
Through PITA, HIMA Sejarah seeks to provide a more accessible source of menstrual products within the campus environment. The availability of sanitary pads is expected to help female students feel more secure and comfortable while continuing their academic and organizational activities.
The idea for PITA originated from student aspirations expressed through DIORAMA (Dialog Ramah Tamah), a forum organized by HIMA Sejarah to facilitate communication between students and the organization’s management. One of the concerns raised during the forum was the need to provide sanitary pads in women’s restrooms as part of basic support for female students.
The Department of Publication, Social Affairs, and Culture subsequently followed up on the proposal and developed it into the PITA program. This process reflects the role of DIORAMA not merely as a forum for discussion, but also as a mechanism for translating student concerns into concrete action.
Beyond addressing an immediate practical need, PITA also carries a broader message about menstrual health. Menstruation is a normal aspect of women’s reproductive health, yet discussions surrounding menstrual needs are still sometimes treated as private or sensitive matters within public and educational spaces.
Dimas Anggoro, S.Pd., M.Pd., faculty adviser to the student associations of the History Education Study Program and the History Study Program, welcomed the initiative as an example of students’ responsiveness to real needs within their campus community.
According to Dimas, student organizations should not function solely as spaces for implementing annual programs. They should also provide opportunities for students to learn how to listen, identify concerns, and respond to the needs of others.
“What may appear simple to some people can be very important to others. PITA shows that students are able to listen to aspirations, understand the needs of female students, and transform those concerns into concrete action,” Dimas said.
He added that attention to menstrual needs should be understood as part of the effort to create a more comfortable and inclusive educational environment.
“A campus should be a place where every student can learn and participate in activities comfortably. Paying attention to the basic needs of female students is part of building a culture of mutual respect that should continue to be strengthened,” he said.
Through PITA, HIMA Sejarah also aims to encourage more open discussion of women’s health. Menstruation should not be regarded as a taboo subject, but rather as a normal health-related matter that deserves appropriate understanding and support.
In the longer term, HIMA Sejarah hopes that PITA will not remain a temporary initiative. The organization expects the program to continue sustainably and to inspire other student organizations at UNNES to pay greater attention to similar needs within the campus community.
