Menstruation has held a societal taboo, shame and stigma around the topic quite strongly, even in this age and time. With education accessible to most corners of the world with the tap on a touchscreen, such topics are often shyed away from in the community.
On this Menstrual Hygiene Day, we pledge to break the rules and stand to raise awareness about this natural phenomena, and primarily challenge the authorities to make menstrual products, education about menstruation and period-friendly sanitation facilities an everyday necessity.
In collaboration with partners around the world, organizations such as UNFPA are working towards ensuring access to basic supplies for women and girls globally. It is a fundamental right to a female's wellbeing to have supplies, and be included and empowered within the community. They also need poverty-less access to period supplies.
Here in the Maldives, Zero Waste Maldives is spreading the word on sustainable ways to deal with menstruation and reproductive health to island communities in collaboration with Cupvert. This is an innovative approach to making menstrual information widely available to our youth, the word is reaching far with virtual sessions held in support with the Society for Health Education.