Menstrual Hygiene Day: UNICEF Support Menstruation?

Naveen khurmi
5 Min Read

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Approximately 1.8 billion females menstruate each month in the world. Teenage life enter an all new stage and brings fresh vulnerabilities with the onset of menstruation.

However during menstruation millions of adolescents girl’s experience judgements, societal exclusion and harassment.

Although owing to the stigma based on gender identity, transgender males and non binary people have no access to the resources and amenities that they require.

Consequently they are unable to maintain their menstrual cycle in a decent and healthy kind of way.

Moreover, these social norms inhibit their freedom movements and personal preferences. Additionally it puts risks at their security as well as adding to their anxiety and fear.

These all ultimately impact on social engagement and school attendance. Moreover, these difficulties become severe due to natural disasters.

Thus on May 28, 2023 on Menstrual Hygiene Day, UNICEF talked about how they help menstruating women in a healthy and dignified way.

1. New Approaches by UNICEF

UNICEF is a world leader in terms of menstrual sanitation and wellness projects.

UNICEF declares to develop programming that gives knowledge, skills and improved access to supplies to manage menstruation in a dignified way.

In order to promote sanitation and health during menstruation, UNICEF focuses on four main areas.

  • Social assistance
  • Knowledge and Abilities
  • Services and amenities
  • Availability of sustaining and absorbent supplies.

1.1. Menstruation Should not be a Hindrance

In some areas such as Kaffrine ( Senegal) getting periods every month means putting your life on pause.

Therefore menstruation is still stigmatized on some regions; thus females who experience this embarrassment frequently skips school and other social events while they are on their periods.

Also, some girls  from region of Kaffrine says that many schools lack toilets. Besides that some girls in Kaffrine don’t have access to reusable pad or some of them can’t afford sanitary napkins.

Thus due to unavailability of feminine hygiene products many females miss schools and start falling behind and eventually quit.

Moreover for many girls periods feel like a ticking time bomb that marks the end of their education.

Thus, NGO Alphadev in Malika (central Senegal) supported by UNICEF, educates some people to sew and make reusable cotton pads.

Their motive is to develop skills for women and men in neglected communities.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FOR SELF RELIANCE: How to Make Reusable Sanitary Pad #unfpa #unicef #usaid #ifwyd

The girls were given a ten days training session and now they have almost produced 20,900 pads and also distributed in schools.

Moreover they told this initiative also works as a major source of income for some of them.

Additionally, to meet the necessities of 235000 school girls more than 4700 dignity kits have been provided by UNICEF in all institutions of region Matam, Kedougou, Tambacounda and Sedhiou.

1.2. We Must End Being Silent about Menstruation

The taboo around menstruation harms many females in Jordan region. In a session with UNICEF, girls told that they miss out school by claiming they have fever or headache.

However, they said another reason to miss schools was anxiety to change their pad at unisex washroom.

They have fear that their clothes would stained. Also girls talked about how they have never discussed about menstruation in class, not even with friends.

Moreover, teacher and their mothers also have not talked about this ever.

Additionally, these girls live in an inadequate conditions. They live in tents. Thus these girls faces a lot of challenges because they don’t even have access to basic water, hygiene amenities and sanitation.

Thus, UNICEF helps these girls by supplying clean water, hygiene kits, toilets as well as by communicating crucial hygiene messages.

Soap, toothpaste, shampoo and sanitary pads are included in each sanitary kit.

2. Myths and Facts about Periods

Menstrual sanitation and well being have been affected by COVID-19 on a global scale. So we must know about some myths and facts about periods during these types of pandemic.

  • A period does not indicate COVID-19.
  • Supplies for menstruation are vital items.
  • Like everyone else, healthcare professionals also require menstrual hygiene products.
  • Access to menstrual hygiene products and care is more difficult when one is in poverty.
  • Good menstrual hygiene is essential for preventing COVID-19.

Last Updated on by kalidaspandian

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