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Orange Foundation in Partnership with Rainbow, prevention First, 4Her and partners has celebrated menstrual world hygiene day to raise awareness on Menstrual Health in Sierra Leone.
The World Menstrual Hygiene Day has been established as a global celebration to address this issue with the aim to bring positive changes in communities worldwide
This year, under the theme “Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030,” Orange Foundation Joins other partners to celebrate the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The event aimed at raising awareness and promote good menstrual health and hygiene practices for all women and girls and contribute to creating an environment in which every woman is empowered to manage her menstruation safely, hygienically, confidently, and without shame.
” We have heard enough, we have been sentisized enough, we have understood that there are myths around menstrual hygiene and we also understood that there are perspectives so I am sure we very well know now that those fact exist but to ensure and to facilitate that we improve our hygiene behaviour especially when it comes to menstruation. We need to provide you with materials also to equip you, empower you, and to Prepare you for menstruation. As a company’s foundation, we have what we call the menstrual hygiene pack that we will be distributing across the country. Girls do not be timid, there is dignity in menstruation. If there was no menstruation you and I would not be here today.” Said PR of Orange Annie Wonnie-Katta, in her opening remarks
President of Orange Women Foundation, Martha Sumaila acknowledges the fact that menstruation is regarded as as forbidden topic in our society. She confirms that menstruation is a topic that affect a group of people that are very close to her heart( Women and Girls). She further revealed that when one try to bring out the topic, they normally considered it as a taboo topic. She added she wouldn’t surprise that the first time most girls in Sierra Leone get their Periods they would have no idea what is happening to them.
She further highlighted some of the challenges in Sierra Leone’s that is currently affecting the attainment of making menstruation a normal fact of life. Key amongst these challenges includes Rural Schools toilets are mostly shared with boys, and a good percentage of male teachers are in Sierra Leone’s Schools. She affirmed that all these are all reasons why girls are actually shying away from going to schools during their menstrual period.
However, she feels pleased that in the past couple of years, they have seen a number of organization in various communities working towards putting a stop to some of these myths that surrounds menstruation.
On behalf of Orange Foundation She thank their partners and all that
her present for joining the worthy cause of in making menstruation the normal fact of life.
The program was climax by the distribution of menstrual hygiene packs to female pupils of the various schools present.
The Celebration was witnessed by representatives from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education(MBSSE), Head Teachers, Teachers and Pupils from various Schools in Freetown.
