AWARENESS RAISING AND TRAINING ON MENSTRUATON AND HYGINE MANAGEMENT TO COMMEMORATE THE WORLD MENSTRUAL DAY. ON the 28th May the world will commemorate again the world menstrual day, showing how significant menstruation is for womanhood and for the general wellbeing of the women and girls in our society. In Sierra Leone this is even more serious due to low awareness level on menstruation which has many health risks and complications especially for our young teenage girls. Menstruation is poorly discussed in our society partly due to our mindset and cultural practices limiting such discussions among parents and their children and the wider society in general.
This day brings its own opportunities to break the silence on the topic and sensitize our communities and teenage girls on good menstrual practices. As an activist and health worker, my passion to make these events take place goes deep beyond my interest on the topic to my personal difficult experiences as a young teenage girl growing up.
I am appealing for support to actualize my dreams to support young girls in the little way I can. My general objective of this project is to popularize the world menstrual day and raise awareness on best menstrual practices and contribute to Sustainable Development Goal three (3) on good health and well-being of all.Empowering women and girls must be a venture that should reflect in all aspect of their life process, therefore the health and well-being of women and girls have been my priority as an activist and as a medical practitioner. Women’s transition from girlhood to womanhood is very stressful and menstruation is the most difficult process with lots of psychological and social implications; cultural taboos and beliefs that hinders good menstrual practice; and lack of knowledge. These are the factual causes of the hazardous conditions girls are facing during menstruation) the hazardous conditions girls are facing during menstruation has been a serious problem for their health development and well-being, cultural barriers shame and embarrassment leave them with no option but to adopt to unhygienic practice for them to take care of their periods. Some use leaves, other do squatting in the toilet, some use cotton and the fortunate ones do use menstrual pads, which is too expensive and unaffordable to many and can expose them to urinary tract infection, fungi infection, reproductive track infection hepatitis A AND E which can negatively impact on their health and education.