Menstruation: Stakeholders seek eradication of misconceptions

Menstruation: Stakeholders seek eradication of misconceptions
NAN-HG-4
Communique
By Kevin Okunzuwa
Benin, Sept. 15, 2017 (NAN) Stakeholders at a UNICEF organised Menstrual Health Management (MHM) workshop in Osun have called for the eradication of misconceptions, myths, taboos and superstitions surrounding menstruation.
The call was part of the stakeholders’ recommendation contained in a communique issued at the end of a two-day workshop held at Ijebu Jesha, Osun, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Benin.
The stakeholders said that menstruation, being a regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina, is a normal biological process and a key sign of reproductive health.
They however decried that the natural phenomenon was treated as a negative, shameful and dirty condition in many cultures, which misconceptions usually resulted in shame, embarrassment and lack of confidence among adolescent school girls and women.
The stakeholders were unanimous that the promotion of MHM was a ‘human right and global issue’ which must be properly attended to.
They noted that MHM was not just about management of the menstrual period but also about the need to address societal beliefs and taboos surrounding the issue.
The stakeholders therefore recommended that the Federal and State Ministries of Water Resources and Women Development Centres should be engaged in the process of integrating MHM promotion in existing health related policies, among others.
“That MHM should be freely discussed by everybody to aid universal attention, break the silence, taboos and misconceptions around menstruation.
“That breaking the silence on MHM requires the continuous and persistent advocacy and awareness of all identified institutions to ensure that women, men, boys and girls are adequately informed and motivated to be ambassadors of MHM.
“That UBEC should encourage State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to include in their state action plan, the provision of adequate and safe water supply, functional female and male toilets, hand washing facilities and bathrooms with mirrors attached, to be built close to the classrooms in schools.
“That traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, non-governmental organisations, community age groups, community women organisations and media should be actively engaged in the process of eradicating the stigma, myths, taboos and misconception surrounding menstruation,” the communiqué read in part.
The stakeholders also urged the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to include MHM in primary and secondary schools curriculum.
“And that all teachers should be trained to teach MHM while counselling on MHM be done by female teachers in schools,” it said.
The stakeholders, who recognised the disposal menstrual waste as critical to MHM, recommended that local production of reusable sanitary pads should be encouraged through subsidy.
It said health workers, like sanitation inspectors, nurses and other medical personnel should be involved in MHM promotion and that there should be MHM review meetings in states.
“And that the private sector and development partners should be encouraged to increase funding for MHM in schools and communities,” it added.
Participants were drawn from UBEC, SUBEB, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Association of Primary School Heads of Nigeria (AOPSHON).
Others include the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Rural Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA), Ministry of Women Affairs, Local Government Education Secretaries and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) from Edo, Ekiti, Delta and Osun states. (NAN)
KOO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola