Society Celebrates World Menstrual Hygiene Day

Female students provided hygiene kits

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society in collaboration with the Austrian Red Cross celebrated World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 30, 2022 under the theme “we are committed”.

The event was held at Netsanet Berehan Primary School, Kirkos Sub-City, Addis Ababa. During the day, the Red Cross provided hygiene kits for the school serving for 295 female students as well as other equipment, including small water tanks, which may be used during Menstrual Hygiene Management.

Isheba Tafari, Gender and Governance Program Manager of Coordination Office for Austrian Development Cooperation to Ethiopia, said at that girls should not drop out of school due to the impact of menstruation. She told that necessary support to address the issue will be given.

Ermias Getachew, Principal of the School, thanked the Red Cross for the support, underlines that this has a significant implications for the change of perception.

Tigist Nigussie and Fedila Tofiq are a 5th and 6th grade students of the school. They explained the difficulty to change their sanitary pads during menstruation because it is in unsanitary toilet. They also said that it would be better if they could have a room for rest at the school when they have menstrual cramps and feel different.

Issues related to menstruation, especially in schools, are related to lack of perceptions, lack of WaSH facilities and items, privacy and space awareness and education, limited access to counselling and guidance are some identified that school girls facing during menstruation.

It is stated during the day that the Ethiopian Red Cross Society is working to change harmful traditional attitudes as well as to prevent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene program.