From Mothers Day to the World Menstrual Hygiene Day May 28.
After Mothers Day, our attention is glued to yet another important world event vital for motherhood. Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, represents a key growth stage and factor in reproductive health. Many challenges afflict motherhood in our Tanzanian communities-and many challenges also afflict pre and post mernache adolescents, especially in primary and secondary schools.
In Lindi for example, girls reported they stay away from school for an average of 2-3 days per month until their menses subside. On average, this adds to 20-30 study days lost per year due to lack of a supportive environment for menstrual health management in most primary schools. Girls’ ability to succeed academically and in their lifelong expectations is negatively impacted, while their overall basic human rights including education, health and freedom of association are compromised.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day calls our attention to discuss and find feasible solutions to the many challenges facing adolescents and women as a whole about menstrual management. These challenges abound in different situations-schools, workplaces, places of worship, homes, prisons, emergency situations including refugee camps, social instabilities and many others.
Menstrual hygiene management remains a secretive issue in many cultures, and a neglected issue in many policies and operational guidelines for essential services and sectors. As a result, the toll on adolescents and women as whole is enormous. Many women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and stigma, low self esteem and dignity, shame, fear and confusion.
COBIHESA has been working with different local and external partners on reproductive health.( Forum SyD, UJCE Nyarugusu, and Hesperian Health Guides). Hesperian Health Guides with partners have developed a digital platform -the HealthWiki , that provides important lifesaving resources on community health including reproductive health. They include Women's Menstrual Cycles; Family Planning, and Pregnancy and Birth ( in The new Where There is No Doctor). Others are Understanding Our Bodies; Health Concerns for Girls; Abortion and Complications of Abortion; and STIs ( in Where Women Have No Doctor). These resources are freely available in Kiswahili at:
http://hesperian.org/books-and-resources/resources-in-swahili/