Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024, a #PeriodFriendlyWorld!

Since 2013, May 28th has been designated ‘Menstrual Hygiene Day’ – an annual awareness-raising day to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM); shine a spotlight on the challenges faced by women and girls in managing their menstrual health; and highlight efforts made by different stakeholders to improve MHM.   

This year, the world celebrates the day under the theme, ‘Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld’. 

However, amongst many communities in South Sudan, the mention of menstruation or menstrual hygiene in public is still frowned about, considered a ‘women’s thing’, or worse still, a taboo. 

As we join the world this year to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day, we hear from learners who have been part of GESS’ mentoring clubs, through which they were trained on how to make re-usable sanitary pads. Over 6,000 learners across the country, both boys and girls, took part in the training.   

“Menstruation has been there, and it will always be there, we just need to be prepared for it, and also help those who don’t know anything about it. I’m always prepared because I have re-usable pads which I made after we were trained on how to make them in our mentoring club sessions,” Keji, Learner in Juba. 

Poverty is still the biggest factor which stops girls from being able to properly manage their menstrual health as they cannot afford the single-use pads which are very expensive. Re-usable sanitary pads can reduce reliance on the expensive pads by providing an alternative for the average girl. 

Schoolgirls are known to spend a portion of the GESS cash transfers on sanitary products, however, the cost of the menstrual hygiene products continue to rise in the markets due to the deteriorating  economic situation, and inflation. GESS has been giving cash transfers to all schoolgirls from primary 5 to secondary 4 to help them afford school-enabling items.  

GESS mentoring clubs allow learners to discuss sensitive topics, such as menstrual hygiene and sexual and reproductive health.  

Poor menstrual health and hygiene undercut fundamental rights for women and girls, and this affects girls’ attendance in schools. “Sometimes girls miss school because they are bullied when they get their period, but nowadays, boys don’t mind talking about menstruation because of the discussions we have in the mentoring clubs”, Bol, a learner in Juba. 

School management bodies can choose to make improvements to menstrual hygiene at the school level through capitation grants. Schools are encouraged to use a portion of the capitation grant money to buy sanitary products for girls to use at school. 

“When we receive capitation grants from GESS, we use a portion of that money to stock sanitary products for the girls. Also I know some schools without WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) facilities use the money to build (gender segregated) washrooms for girls so that they don’t leave school when they get their period in school, or for them to clean –up and continue with their classes,” Mary, a Senior Female Teacher from Juba. 

Through continued behaviour change communications and improved access to menstrual hygiene products, every girl and woman will be able to experience a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. 

Categorised in: Capitation Grants, Cash Transfers, Girls' Education, Human Interest Story, Social & Behavioural Change Communication