Today, we concluded our Menstrual Hygiene Week, a pivotal initiative aimed at raising awareness about menstrual hygiene among girls and women in our community. The event featured an insightful presentation from Dr. Aakeen (PhD), founder of Minazi Consulting. Dr. Aakeen detailed the menstrual cycle, emphasizing proper hygiene practices during menstruation and the importance of seeking medical advice when experiencing prolonged or heavy periods.
Over 500 million women and girls worldwide struggle to manage their periods safely, hygienically, and without shame. In Rwanda, 2 out of 5 girls miss school due to stigma and the lack of affordable menstrual products, which also lead to school dropouts. To address this, together with Minazi Consulting, we are creating eco-friendly sanitary pads from banana fibers, which are distributed for free to girls and women in our community.
Bizimana Egide, the Executive Secretary of the Busasamana Sector, underscored the role of parents in supporting their daughters during menstruation. He drew a parallel, stating that just as parents, especially fathers, see the importance of buying sports equipment for their sons, they must also prioritize purchasing menstrual products for their daughters. He urged mothers to openly discuss menstruation with their daughters, normalizing the conversation and ensuring no girl misses school due to her period.
Kabera Clement, the Director of Health in Nyanza District, expressed gratitude towards Minazi Consulting and Dufatanye Organization for their efforts in developing eco-friendly sanitary pads. He stressed the need for affordability to ensure accessibility for all women and girls. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of maintaining cleanliness, especially during menstruation, to prevent infections and diseases such as cervical cancer.
This initiative is part of our broader Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) program, where we educate youth and adolescents on various topics, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reproductive health services, and HIV/AIDS prevention.
The event concluded with the distribution of 500 sanitary pads to girls and women in the community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all attendees, especially our partners Minazi Consulting and Kosmotive Rwanda, for their unwavering support, commitment and technical expertise.
"Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (1Corinthias 3:6)
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