In the lead up to Menstrual Hygiene Day (28th May), Just a Drop will be sharing impacts, stories, and information about Menstrual Hygiene around the world and in our projects. At Just a Drop we focus on removing barriers for women and girls via Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), sometimes referred to as Menstrual Health & Hygiene (MHH).  

 

But what do we mean by Menstrual Hygiene Management? 

 

Menstrual Hygiene Management simply means women and girls having the necessary knowledge, facilities, and resources to be able to adequately manage their periods. This requires adequate WASH provision, such as gender sensitive private latrines, a water supply, and the community training and education which are necessary for people who menstruate to manage their periods with dignity.  

 

In practical terms, MHM can largely be broken down into MHM products and facilities, and knowledge based MHM. MHM provides women with the resources to manage their periods such as providing pads and tampons, teaching women how to make pads, providing segregated latrines, and a safe water supply. MHM also ensures that women and girls are provided with the knowledge to manage their periods, and that their community is informed and supportive about menstruation. This side of MHM works to break down taboos, myths, and the misconception of menstruation as ‘impure’ to combat shame and inequality related to periods.  

 

At Just a Drop our approach incorporates all of these components to ensure holistic MHM. We will be sharing details of our work throughout the week, but what is important to bear in mind is the necessity and urgency with which adequate MHM must be provided.   

 

The World Bank estimates that today 500 million women and girls do not have access to the menstrual products and facilities necessary for adequate MHM. Menstruation is a natural part of many people’s lives, and it is vital that they all have the ability to have their periods without difficulty, suffering, or shame. Every year millions of girls drop out of school due to either lacking resources or the fear of shame due to a natural bodily function.  

Stay tuned for more information about Menstrual Hygiene and MHM, and don’t forget to head to our Donations Page if you can help us to change women and girls’ lives for the better. Check out these Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 hashtags over the week on social media for more information… 

 

#WeAreCommitted #PeriodEducationForAll #EndPeriodStigma #EndPeriodPoverty