Menstrual Hygiene Day

Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a day that aims to raise awareness and change negative social norms around menstruation and create a world in which everyone is empowered to manage menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence and without shame. Over 800 million women and girls menstruate every day across the globe face barriers to properly managing their periods.

The social stigmas and taboos surrounding menstruation often prevent women and girls from attending work and school. Even when they do attend while menstruating, the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, lack of sanitation infrastructure such as private toilets and handwashing facilities, and lack of menstrual hygiene education can prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential in the classroom, in the workplace, and at home.

We call on the Zimbabwean government to commit to ensuring that sanitary wear remains affordable whilst promoting hygiene among women and girls. Government should also prioritise menstrual hygiene management in responding to the coronavirus crisis and treat sanitary products as essential items during this pandemic.