Observing Menstrual Hygiene Day

On 28th May (today), Papua Guinea will join the world in observing World Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD).

This is a global initiative that brings together organisations, government agencies, the private sector, media and individuals to promote Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).

MHD raises awareness on the challenges faced by women and girls worldwide from culturally ingrained beliefs about the impurity and stigma associated with menstruation that prevents them from fully participating in crucial daily activities such as education.

“Women and girls miss out on opportunities in life when they are not empowered and supported to manage this biological process in a dignified manner. Adolescent girls miss out on education when they skip school during menstruation. In PNG, UNICEF supports the Government to address MHM by promoting change room facilities in schools to ensure adolescent girls comfortably remain in school during menstruation,” UNICEF representative, David Mcloughlin, said.

Globally, 51 percent of the female population is of reproductive age. This means that at least 1.8 billion women and girls around the world are in need of information, products and private facilities to manage their monthly periods. 

Activities to highlight this year’s theme, #NoMoreLimits – Empowering women and girls through good menstrual hygiene – include school-based sensitization for male and female students and teachers in some Port Moresby schools promoting awareness through the media that will culminate in the main national event to be held at Boreboa Primary School.

First Assistant Secretary for Policy and Research in the Department of Education, Peter Kants, in acknowledging MHM as a globally recognised public health topic, called for the promotion of effective MHM in PNG to address challenges of stigma and boost the health, comfort and dignity of women and girls so that they become active participants in society.

“To promote menstrual hygiene management and ensure adolescent girls remain in school, the Government’s Tuition Fee Free policy allows schools to improve Water and Sanitation Hygiene facilities and provide consumables such as sanitary pads and soap for adolescent girls through the School Learning Improvement Plan,” Kants added.

 

Partnership

Menstrual Hygiene Day is a global platform for partners across all sectors to engage in action, advocacy and knowledge-sharing around menstrual hygiene management. In PNG this year’s leading partners working with government (Department of Health, Department of Education and Planning and Monitoring Unit) include UNICEF, Australian AID, Anglicare, WASH United, several PNG newspapers, radio and TV stations, and World Vision among others.

 

More online resources

General resource and info - http://menstrualhygieneday.org/about/why-menstruationmatters/

Research on MHM - http://menstrualhygieneday.org/resources-mhm/

Ongoing events around the world - http://menstrualhygieneday.org/events-3/2018-events/

Author: 
Press release