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Menstrual equity means the affordability, accessibility and safety of menstrual products for all. It’s about making sure that people have the needs, support, and choices to decide how they want to take care of their menstrual health.
Despite efforts from the government regarding supporting girls during menstruation, such as the "Girl’s Room” (Icyumba cy’umukobwa) initiative in schools, some challenges still prevail in terms of maintaining hygiene and education, which according to activists, is a major problem.
Isabella Akaliza, founder of Period Poverty Initiative which seeks to ease menstrual burden for schoolgirls, says it’s important to have spaces where girls can change in privacy for the duration of their menstrual period.
Having access to washing facilities and areas where they can dispose of used period products is also a necessity.
"Not being able to dispose of your period product with privacy and dignity can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Improved access enables students to fully engage in education and everyday life.
"Paying attention to such crucial necessities that are usually deemed ‘women’s issues’ could help fill in some blind spots,” she says.
For girls from vulnerable families, Amina Umuhoza, another gender activist with an organisation supporting women, says it’s the role of the government to given them access to such necessities, adding that those initiatives in schools (icyumba cy’umukobwa) should target these girls in advance.
Meanwhile, Umuhoza notes that it’s vital for young girls to be taught how to make reusable pads by using the available resources so that they can be able to help themselves just in case.
"About menstrual education, it has to start with parents first, and they should do it in a way that doesn’t stigmatise them. They have to remind them that menstruation is not bad, it is natural,” she adds.
Education
The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has incorporated the Comprehensive Sexuality and Reproductive Health Education into the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).
Students (according to their levels) are taught different subjects around reproductive system, sexual health, reproduction pregnancy and childbirth, sexual behaviours, reducing risks of STIs, decision-making regarding sexual relationships, among other related subjects.
Rose Baguma, Director-General of Education and Planning in the Ministry of Education, says through girls’ rooms, they aim at teaching menstruation and hygiene.
This, she says, helps students when they need pads (in case they forgot one or the period came unexpectedly), to take a shower, change, get more info about menstruation (from matrons and other educative materials), and rest (in case of uncomfortable situations.
In order to ensure all girls are aware of this, Baguma says schools use matrons who are female teachers, to work closely with girls and educate them (out of a formal setting, that is, classrooms).
Another strategy is school health clubs—students have the opportunity to join health clubs where they discuss all health matters including HIV/AIDS, menstruation, among other issues.
According to Baguma, a school health policy is another strategic document that provides policy orientation around all health issues at school (hygiene included).
"Regarding campaigns against teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence, MINEDUC, and other partners, conduct campaigns in schools to raise general awareness and lay strategies to prevent early pregnancies and GBV, and different talks are done, including hygiene,” she says.
For primary school, MINEDUC plans to apply the same strategies for young girls at primary level, starting with those that have a secondary section.
Eliphaz Karamage, Adolescent Health Officer at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), says that there is a need to ensure good hygiene during the whole period of menstruation, to help keep girls from pathogens and other microbes that come with poor hygiene.