Some 1,800 girls in Region Nine are due to benefit from a year’s supply of sanitary napkins under the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative, which was launched in the region on Friday by First Lady Arya Ali as part of an historic programme to end period poverty in Guyana.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported yesterday that at the launch ceremony, held at the St. Ignatius Secondary School in Lethem, the First Lady indicated that globally, more than 800 million girls continue to miss school for at least one week every month because of period poverty.
“You little girls are our future nurses, doctors, lawyers. You are the future leaders of our country and at no point in your life should you be forced between having an education or staying at home because you do not have access to sanitary pads… So, of those 800 million girls, after today, no one should be from Guyana,” she was quoted as saying.
The report said Ali reaffirmed her commitment to doing everything in her power to help women and girls in not just Region Nine, but all other regions. She also implored teachers and guardians to facilitate conversations about women’s health.
“Many of you here might not need these pads since accessibility is not an issue, but for thousands of other girls, the pads will be eagerly received. I want you to recognise that the advancement of women in society also depends heavily on the extent in which we as women support each other.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, who also attended the launch of the initiative, called on women, girls, men and boys to end the taboo and stigma attached to periods.
The minister referred to a study done by the Education Ministry which found that a large percentage of girls skipped at least six days of school annually due to their periods. She added that girls are also forced to decline participating in cultural activities and/or normal events to enhance their wellbeing, which is also a consequence to their menstrual cycle. “We also found in that research that 41 per cent of girls use other products outside of sanitary napkins,” Minister Manickchand noted.
The DPI spoke to beneficiaries of the initiative who expressed their gratitude for the First Lady’s intervention.
Sarita Joseph, a fourth form St. Ignatius Secondary student shared that she, like many other girls, has suffered from period shaming.
“Because of my period I do not participate in certain activities. There are some children out there who take advantage of you and make fun of you because of your period. But I am listening to the First Lady and learning not to be embarrassed of my period.”
Alini Robeiro told DPI that a financial burden is lifted off of her family now that her region is supplied with a year’s worth of sanitary napkins. “This is so helpful and I am thankful for it,” she said.
British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller, who also attended event, commended the initiative.
The First Lady, with the support of Manickchand, will be launching the initiative in every region.
