Namibia will be commemorating Menstrual Hygiene Day this year for the first time through a 5-day campaign, which will start on May 28th and end on June 1st. The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture will lead the preparation process under the School Health Task Force. The purpose of the commemoration is to:
1. Mobilize policy level support towards menstrual hygiene management with regards to financing and formulating a policy framework to guide menstrual hygiene programming in Namibia.
2. Sensitize schools and communities on the importance of dignified menstrual hygiene management and to recognize associated taboos.
3. Encourage schools to play an active role in discussions and making necessary provisions for menstrual hygiene management.
A multi-sectoral working committee was established to steer the preparatory work and organize the campaign. Stakeholders were drawn from the National School Health Task Force, namely the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners. This was to ensure an effective commemoration and campaign as well as implementation of the commitments and recommendations which will be made throughout the campaign period.
The official commemoration on May 28th will be a high-level advocacy event at which the key ministries will make commitments towards menstrual hygiene management in the country.
The school-based advocacy activities will specifically focus on delivering key messages on menstrual hygiene management to these school communities, including parents and community gatekeepers. These engagements will encourage schools to start, or scale up, menstrual hygiene management activities in their schools.
Media activities and engagement shall include a press release, press conference, radio and TV interviews and talk shows, and social media. Information and education materials such as infographics, fact sheets, and banners shall be printed and distributed.