HAPPY MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY 2020

HAPPY  MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY TO ALL WOMEN


By Chibwe Lumpa 

Today we join the rest of the world in commemorating  World Menstrual hygiene day.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated annually on the 28th of May since 2014 to raise awareness, change negative conceptions on menstruation and engage decision makers in prioritization of Menstrual Hygiene Management for girls.
Menstruation negatively affects the average girl child due to  lack of water and proper sanitation in schools, millions of girls lack a proper place to change their sanitary wear. Lack of sanitary wear during periods affects  school work or even chances of making it to school on these days. Which eventually affects girls academic performance.

Myths, misconceptions and lack of information has led to shaming and stigmatising periods. Till now periods are thought to be a taboo subject that cannot be discussed in public, menstrual products are smuggled because they are not supposed to be seen by anyone. 

This attitude has led to shaming and stigmatising of girls who stain themselves with periods.


On September 11, 2019 BBC reported in Kenya, a 14 year old girl who hanged herself after being shamed by her teacher and friends for staining her uniform with periods.


 Should we then continue under estimating the effects of menstrual shaming? No, menstrual talk should be normalised!!

On Oct 2, 2019, the Zambian Parliament unanimously supported the motion which urged government to provide adequate sanitation and sanitary towels to girls in public schools. 


A very progressive move that if implemented will improve the school attendance and  academic performance of girls especially in rural areas.
Menstrual hygiene products are not affordable in Zambia. T

Menstrual hygiene management should be prioritised by the government as one way of making sure girls stay healthy and stay in school. According to a research by Women for Change , on average, girls miss school 4 days in a month, 13 days in a term, 39 days in a year.

It is this reason that the Reach One Child  Foundation continues to support efforts to promote awareness on menstrual hygiene management and celebrates with the world on this day. 

I encourage each one of us to take, promote and support efforts towards ending period poverty.


#MHD2020 #endperiodpoverty #1FRIEND1BOX

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
zambia this evening blasted into the AFCON  under 20 semi finals with a crushing 6-1 defeat of hapless Mali at lusaka's national heroes stadioum. zambia who dominated play throughout wre  no match  for mali and became the top scoring team of the tournament. cheered on by a massive home crowd  of the fans who included vice president inonge wina and former president rupiah banda , zambia proved too superior for Mali as the chipolopolo led three goals to one at break.
Read more

"Our traditional ceremony will go as planned on 28 September 2019 despite the continued wrangles" Chief Matebo has said

Image
Chief  Matebo of the Kaonde speaking people of Kalumbila District says the imaginary wrangles in his Chiefdom are not being perpetuated by subjects of the royal establishment but by outside forces. Speaking shortly after having a closed door meeting with North Western Province Permanent Secretary Mr Willies Mangimela at provincial administration yesterday sitting Chief of the Matebo royal establishment Evans Nyeleti journalists that there are some chiefs trying to sponsor wrangles through hidden agendas in the Chiefdom. However, Chief Matebo has advised the chiefs behind the wrangles to let issues of Matebo be resolved by the people of Matebo. "The group that you are seeing from Matebo Chiefdom came to see the PS over the incident that happened on the 10th of September, this year," He said. "They were some gun shots that were fired in Matebo Chiefdom,houses were burnt, six people  were injured and out of the six two people had their hands broken and they ha
Read more

Subjects of Chief Matebo of the Kaonde speaking people of Kalumbila district have accused two traditional leaders for causing confusion in the matter of who should be the chief between Collece Mulemena and Evans Nyeleti.

Image
Subjects of Chief Matebo of the Kaonde speaking people of Kalumbila district have accused two traditional leaders for causing confusion in the matter of who should be the chief between Collece Mulemena and Evans Nyeleti. Speaking during a meeting called by the sitting Chief  of  the  Matebo chiefdom, the seventh Evans Nyeleti today at the palace, the subjects alleged that the said  two chiefs  are contributing to the continued  wrangles over the chieftainship  of the Matebo royal establishment. The subjects said the two chiefs are supporting Collece Mulemena who lost the case in the high Court through a judgment which was passed. Nyambi Harrison, who spoke on behalf of the other subjects, said he wonders why the two chiefs have concentrated on Chief Matebo's Chiefdom when they have their own Chiefdoms. He disclosed that the people choose Evans Nyeleti to be their Chief and when the matter was taken to court, It resolved that he qualifies to be on the throne. " it is
Read more