From Scholastica Onyeka Makurdi
As the Menstrual Health Day, (MH Day), is marked globally, Non Governmental Organization, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, (AHF), has called on everyone to “EndTheStigma on periods” for the 1.8 billion people who menstruate worldwide.
AHF Director of Global Advocacy and Policy, Guillermina Alaniz, made this call in a statement signed by the Advocacy and Marketing Manager, AHF Nigeria, Steve Aborisade, and made available to Daily Sun in Makurdi on Friday.
Alaniz also urged all countries to prioritize ending period poverty by promoting access to menstrual health products, safe and clean facilities.
He maintained that “Nothing can stop us from having periods, but the harmful stigma and discrimination around menstruation, along with the lack of access to menstrual health products and facilities, has the power to stop us from thriving and living healthy lives.”
Alaniz said “Menstrual health must be a priority worldwide, particularly in lower-income countries, because people who menstruate are in danger of being left behind due to inadequate health and safety around periods.
“It’s time to ‘End the Stigma’ on menstruation and ensure that period products and safe facilities are available to everyone, without shame or discrimination.”
Recall that MH Day is commemorated annually on May 28 to recognize the need for increased menstrual health education and resources. AHF said its country teams have planned empowering, entertaining, and educational “End the Stigma” commemorative MH Day events for 2023.
In Nigeria, AHF Nigeria with her partners are organizing a community rally and sensitization on Korfa Pada, in Keffi, Nasarawa state, start from the palace of the Emir, enroute the Federal Medical Center (FMC) roundabout and back to the Emir’s palace where young women and adolescents’ girls with boys would gather for a menstrual health talk, which will also see AHF give out free sanitary pads to participants.
He said AHF, in partnership with ministries and agencies of government, will continue to be at the forefront of advocacy to ensure indigent young women and girls who lack access to sanitary products can have unhindered access.
AHF Nigeria Country Program Director, Dr. Eche Ijezie, said “Young women and girls, irrespective of their location or social status must be able to have their periods in a safe and conducive environment and without the difficulties that a lack of access to sanitary products presently constitutes,”
“About a quarter of the world’s population menstruates, yet 500 million will experience period poverty, or the lack of access to menstrual health products, safe and clean facilities, and accepting communities.
“These barriers can lead to poor health outcomes, missing school or work by up to 20%, and negative effects on mental health,” Ijezie said
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.7 million clients in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe.