MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT

The aim of our project is not only to popularize Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD], breaking the silence attached to menstruation but also to build awareness about good Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). Further, it intends on giving MHM greater visibility and prioritizes solutions. Interventions such as the provision of sanitary products, education around puberty, and painless menstrual periods will increase girls’ attendance at schools (senior author Paul Montgomery of Oxford University’s Center). Also. to pass on messages which will end the stigma against menstruation in our communities. Sensitization to policymakers and politicians to realize that feminine hygiene products deserve more credits and encourage stakeholders to proactively support school girls and women from low income to access and afford menstrual hygiene services and keep on schooling. Due to the unoriotization of various programs in the country and, traditionally regarded as a taboo which is attached to many myths, misconceptions and negative cultural attitudes, MHM has persistently overlooked and neglected not only by sensitive programs such as WASH, health, education and by protection programs but also is practiced accordance to cultural, social and economic status.
This leads to most of girls while they are in schools to face a number of challenges which are not limited to stigma attached to menstruation, receive poor preparations before and during puberty, inadequate water to clean and wash up during their period, lack of materials for managing menstrual hygiene during menstruation, absence of private space and washrooms, inappropriate facilities for disposal of used materials, physical and psychological pains due to lack of menstrual pain killer programs. Hence most of them miss classes during their period while some of them drop out completely due to lack of sanitary pads. There is a need for girls and women to team up through AFYAPLUS Organization to raise voices in order to influence the removal of sales tax on feminine hygiene products so that women including girls can afford to get sanitary pads for their menstruation which will help to keep girls in schools. Hence this will guarantee the rights of girls and females to a decent life and education.