#MenstrualHealthDay: Initiative aims to empower women
The day is an advocacy platform that brings together the voices to promote good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls.
AS a way to destigmatise and encourage healthy, open and honest conversations about menstruation, Menstrual Health (MH) Day does just that.
Observed globally every 28 May since 2014, the day is an advocacy platform that brings together the voices and actions of non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector, and the media to promote good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls.
In bringing the issue closer to home, Yellowwood Park resident, Cecelia Oliver, has made it her mission to assist women in need of sanitary towels monthly.
Through her Pamper Pack Initiative, there is a silver lining for women in Wentworth who cannot afford pads.
“My objective for this drive is to make sanitary towels available to the women and girls who need it most in the community. I’ve realised that with the unemployment rate being so high there are many people and women, in particular, in desperate need of assistance when it comes to toiletries,” she said.
The initiative, she said, is set in the hopes of helping as many women as possible. The more donations received monthly, the more women can be helped.
There are two ways to get involved in this worthy cause, donate a pack or packs of sanitary towels every month, if possible, or spread the word by telling others about this initiative.
“The vision of MH Day I’ve adopted for this initiative is to create a world where no woman or girl is held back because she menstruates. A world without period stigma and period poverty. This means a world in which every woman and girl is empowered to manage her menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence and without shame,” she added.
Due to poor menstrual hygiene caused by a lack of education on the issue, persisting taboos and stigma, limited access to hygienic menstrual products and poor sanitation infrastructure undermines the educational opportunities, health and overall social status of women and girls around the world.
As a result, millions of women and girls are kept from reaching their full potential. MH Day, more specifically, breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around mentstrual health and hygiene (MHH).
It also engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHH, at global, national and local levels.
Drop-offs can be made to Nicole Smith or the reception desk at Blue Roof Life Space on 178 Austerville Drive, Wentworth. For more information about the initiative e-mail Cecelia Oliver at c.oliver33@icloud.com.
