The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated US$50,000 worth of sanitary pads to the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative undertaken by First Lady Arya Ali to end period poverty in Guyana.
“Removing barriers to access basic sanitary products for girls allow them to exercise their reproductive rights. UNFPA is therefore pleased to support the excellent period poverty initiative of the First Lady as it addresses the right to health, dignity and gender equality,” UNFPA Liaison Officer for Guyana Adler Bynoe was quoted as saying by the Office of the First Lady during a simple handing over ceremony at State House on Thursday.
UNFPA is the United Nations’ sexual and reproductive health agency.
The Office of the First Lady said in a statement yesterday that Ali thanked the UN agency for its support and highlighted how important it is for the issue of period poverty to be recognised and actioned by international organisations like the United Nations.
The statement noted that the UNFPA will also be partnering with the Office of the First Lady next year to conduct sensitization workshops on sexual and reproductive health, and the implementation of a public education and awareness campaign.
The statement reminded that last year Ali announced her intention to end period poverty in Guyana – an issue which adversely affects women and girls in the hinterland and restrict access to education.
As a result of her efforts, sanitary pads are currently being distributed in secondary schools across all ten administrative regions, with over 30,000 students expected to receive one year’s supply of pads.
Ali explained that the initiative started with a focus on school-aged girls, many of whom were unable to attend school when they experienced their menstruation because they
either could not afford or access sanitary products.
“So we started with the schools; providing coverage to all school-aged girls, and then we will
move to providing coverage to women, beginning with the most vulnerable,” the First Lady stated.
This year, the Government provided $50 million of $60 million required to provide full coverage to all school-aged girls. Donations, sponsorship and fundraisers have helped to offset the shortfall.
With full coverage provided to all school-aged girls, attention will now be placed on providing sanitary products to women in vulnerable situations, with the aim of expanding coverage countrywide.
In the long term, the project seeks to ensure that every woman and girl in Guyana is provided
with free sanitary products, the statement added.
