Menstrual Hygiene Day: 300m Women Menstruate Daily Globally, Says WaterAid

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

In commemoration of the 2018 Menstrual Hygiene Day, an International non-governmental organisation, WaterAid, has revealed that not less than 300 million women around the globe observe their monthly period daily.

WaterAid Country Representative, Dr. Chichi Okoye, who revealed this in Abuja during the 2018 Menstrual Hygiene Day, with the theme ‘No More Limits’, said a lot of challenges women face today is tied to menstruation and informed that the lingering situation that comes from it still persists.

Okoye said the misconception has a huge implication on girls’ education and many schools have no toilets and the girls end up not going to school for days and which she said could lead to dropping out of school in extreme cases.

She said: “300 million women menstruate daily around the world. Menstrual hygiene is a human right issue amounting to Sustainable Development Goal-6. Due to the taboo that surrounds menstruation in most communities, most girls don’t get informed. They grow up thinking something is wrong with them. Schools and communities must support girls.

“A lot of challenges women face today is tied to menstruation and the lingering situation that comes with it still persists. We are calling on people all over the world to put a stop to it as it has several implications on girls’ education. To make matters worse, many schools have no toilets.”

In his speech to commemorate the day, PLAN representative, Mr. Tunde Aremu, called for a review of the educational curriculum to include more education and information for girls concerning their menstrual cycle and added that for its effectiveness, boys must also be educated to know and understand that what happens in the lives of girls is biological and normal.

He added that teachers must also be well equipped to break the myth of menstrual cycle and the shame that comes with it. He added that even religious and traditional leaders have a role to play in the lives of their congregation and communities and putting at bay the falsehood that is tied to menstrual hygiene.

“It should be seen as a health issue and not a taboo and the mental well-being of the female child is very important. There is the need to create more education and male folk including religious and traditional leaders must be carried along in the enlightenment crusade.”