Menstrual Health Day 28 May 2021, comes in a special circumstance, as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences of COVID-19 have far reaching implications amongst school going girls who have had several unwarranted teenage pregnancies, early forced marriages among other adversities.
Menstrual Periods do not stop because of a pandemic!
This year more than ever before, Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) Day is so imperative as a way of a much needed awareness creation about the already existing negative effects of vices brought about by the pandemic among school girls.
A challenge that has always been in our midst, MHH,has been given an uglier new “face” by loss of livelihoods in families, increased domestic violence cases family separations forced marriage of young girls to older men-,”selling girls for income” to mention but a few of the vices in the backstop of the pandemic.
Our Menstrual Health and Hygiene campaign this year should focus on reaching out to girls in schools with information and sanitary hygiene kits. We want provide education around Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), access to affordable, reusable sanitary towels, equipping school infrastructure including latrines, washrooms and access to water, raising awareness of menstrual hygiene and health in our communities and finally strive to exterminate stigma of girls and women due to menstruation.
The campaign #ComfortablePsinDaros, alongside raising awareness should also endeavor to raise funds for sustainable projects to purchase sanitary hygiene towels for future use to keep as many girls as possible in school without interruptions during these special times of the month.
In line with our current bi-ennium theme: Empowerment and Partnerships for Equality,let all clubs reach out to stakeholders to help keep our girls in school.
Judith
