Check out why Health and Hygiene Officer Nadia thinks that menstrual education is not "girl-friendly" enough and how SHE is instigating for these changes at the school level:
"With the support of VSO Rwanda, SHE conducted menstrual health and
hygiene awareness programs across the Ngoma District within the month of March.
In our Rwandan culture, as in other parts of the world, menstruation
is still viewed as a taboo, making it difficult for parents, teachers and
children comfortable to tackle the matter in details. Some parents would say
nothing at all about menstruation or at the very least, would ask someone else
to explain menstruation to their daughters, which has resulted in
misinformation about menstruation.
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| Health and Hygiene Officer Nadia at one of our 8 awareness sessions in the Ngoma District. |
With all this confusion about how to properly manage their period,
girls miss up to 3-5 school days each month, while their male colleagues
proceed with their studies, thus making our young sisters, future mothers and
leaders of Rwanda at risk of falling behind at school, having low marks, and
not having the same achievements as their brothers.
Students therefore have to rely on teachers for menstrual hygiene
education, but all they learn is about the biological changes that occur with
the onset of menstruation. Unfortunately, menstrual hygiene management part is
not covered within it. Girls, as well as boys, need to have that information,
so they are prepared once menses does begin and to take it easy; and most
importantly, to know that menstruation is NOT a disease or is something
shameful! This was our overview when we lead these awareness workshops.
The fact is increased access to menstrual hygiene education is
needed and it needs to be presented in a child and girl-friendly manner. If
it’s not done in a girl-friendly approach, girls will continue to receive
incorrect menstrual information. Some of the myths or incorrect information
that I heard from the girls include:
"If you sleep with a man while menstruating, you will never
have painful periods”
or
"If you have sex while menstruating, you will never get
pregnant"
These girls’ voices are calling out for SHE support. They have the
right to know that menstruation is not a disease or a curse as some people
believe - it is a normal physiological process the body undergoes.That is why
SHE is instigating for increased access to menstrual education and materials at
the national level!
SHE is taking the lead to educate girls about MHM through their
teachers and parents. Will you join us? Girls are demanding to 'know more!'
I extend gratitude to the Ngoma District and their schools; as a
result we were able to provide our MHM awareness workshop to over 1100
students.
I am also most grateful to the girls and their teachers for talking frankly
about menstruation in the school setting with us. Girls, we love you, and we
believe you deserve to manage your menses healthy and hygienically."
Cheers,
Nadia Hitimana
Health and Hygiene Officer"
