Menstrual health and hygiene is still a taboo topic for many people. In parts of the world, restricted access to clean water, sanitation and menstrual hygiene products makes it hard for girls and women to manage their periods safely and with dignity. An estimated 70% of women in India can’t afford sanitary products, forcing the to use newspapers, dry leaves, cotton rags and other items that make them susceptible to urogenital infections. In Kenya, several studies show that some schoolgirls sell sex to pay for menstrual hygiene products. Not having access to clean and private toilets – putting adolescent girls at risk of being humiliated by classmates – can cause girls to skip school and eventually drop out after they reach puberty. Without access to decent menstrual health management (MHM), girls and women will be held back by the same problem every month of their reproductive years.

This event is free and open to all, but registration is essential.

On May 27, the day before World Menstrual Hygiene Day, we invite anyone with an interest in the topic to join our event. Jane Wilbur, Research Fellow at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability (ICED) at the LSHTM, will join us to talk about menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for people living with disabilities in Nepal. An additional speaker will be announced soon.