Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebration 2023

On May 28, 2023, the Menstrual Hygiene Day was celebrated globally, with a focus on raising awareness and education about menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls and young women.

Sport in Action joined the rest of the world in commemorating this global event in its various implementation districts of Mporokoso, Luwingu, kabwe and Lusaka, targeting girls between the ages of 10 – 19 years.

The event aimed to address the challenges and hardships that many women and girls face during their menstruation and to highlight positive and innovative solutions being taken to address these challenges.

The Girls in Action Safe Space program, composed of mentors and ambassadors who actively educate Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) played a vital role in breaking down the taboos surrounding menstruation and reducing stigmatization, Inadequate access to menstrual hygiene management products, limited options of menstrual hygiene materials due to cost and availability, and social norms that restrict women and girls’ choices have been identified as prominent challenges in developing countries such as Zambia.

The Menstrual Hygiene Day served as a platform to bring together individuals, organizations, social businesses, and the media to create a united and strong voice for women and girls. It addressed not only the importance of good menstrual hygiene management at a global level but also the need for proper education for women and girls.

The event’s objectives included highlighting the hardships and challenges faced by women and girls during menstruation, promoting positive solutions, catalyzing a global movement that supports girls and women’s rights, building partnerships at national and local levels, promoting body literacy and autonomy, and advocating for gender equality.

Through the Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration, significant strides were made in breaking down the stigma surrounding menstruation and promoting menstrual hygiene across regions. Furthermore, the event was instrumental in catalyzing a movement that recognizes the significance of women and girls’ hygiene needs and promotes their rights towards gender equality.

In conclusion, the Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebration was a resounding success, with stakeholders in Luwingu,Mporokoso,Kabwe and Lusaka coming together to champion menstrual hygiene management for adolescent girls and young women. The event strengthened the voices of women and girls while raising awareness of menstrual hygiene and the significant challenges it poses to women and girls in developing countries.