Communities sensitized to Good Menstrual Hygiene Management

On May 28th 2022, HELVETAS Mozambique held a Campaign for Social and Behavioral Change for the adoption of Good Management Practices for Menstrual Hygiene, with the objective of combating the taboos and stigmatization of women arising from poor knowledge of management and hygiene during menstrual periods and to raise awareness in local communities about this fact that is one of the natural characteristics of women and girls of childbearing age.

The Campaign for Social and Behavioral Change is an initiative of the Cabo Delgado Health Promotion project and the KALAI project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Charity:Water, respectively. The event is held in collaboration with the Chiúre District Government, in the context of the various government initiatives implemented in the country at various levels of direction, an example being the Presidential Initiative for Women's and Children's Health, where all segments of Mozambican society are called upon to become involved in finding solutions to respond to the problem of women's and children's health in Mozambique.

Addressing the needs related to menstruation is a necessary step to enable girls and women, especially in rural areas, to participate equally in the various spheres of society. Poor menstrual hygiene management affects the dignity, mobility and confidence of girls and women, thus compromising access to education, health, hygiene and economic development and ultimately overall progress towards achieving gender equity and equality.