May 28th – Celebrating Menstrual Health Awareness Day

The goal of Menstrual Hygiene Day is to spread awareness and instigate change so women worldwide can manage their periods in a hygienic, dignified way.  Here are some of the occasion’s primary goals:

Improving access to sanitary products

Currently, many girls around the world are missing school due to not being able to afford period products. A 2019 youth study in New Zealand showed that 8% of menstruating school students had days off due to a lack of access to sanitary products. Period poverty puts them at a severe disadvantage as they miss out on schooling, and it also affects their social status and self-esteem. It isn’t just school-aged girls who suffer either; globally, women of all ages lack the means to manage their periods safely and face stigma.

In New Zealand, the government has reacted to these statistics by rolling out and re-committing to an initiative to offer free period products in schools. This is a great first step towards ending period poverty, but there is more to be done around changing societal views.

Reducing stigma and shame around menstruation

It isn’t just access to period products that needs to be improved. The global attitude towards menstruation needs to change so women can feel confident and supported when managing their periods, instead of feeling shame and fear.

A study in New Zealand showed that some girls think they are dying when they first get their period because no one has told them what to expect. In India, 71% of girls don’t know about periods until they get them themselves. This shame around periods can have severe negative effects on mental and emotional health, so it is another key area that Menstrual Hygiene Day focuses on.

Challenging discriminatory societal norms

The discriminatory societal norms surrounding periods can hinder women and girls’ ability to manage menstrual hygiene, impacting their physical and mental health, education, and overall participation in society. By fighting for improved access to sanitary products and reducing the stigma surrounding menstruation, Menstrual Hygiene Day is vital to empowering women and girls, promoting gender equality, and contributing to sustainable development goals worldwide.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated on the 28/05, as the average cycle is 28 days and the average period lasts for five days. This year, you can find virtual and in-person events to celebrate and help spread awareness.

Even if you can’t make it to an event, Menstrual Hygiene Day is a good reminder to think about the women in your life and consider any actions you can take today to pave the way for a better future for girls across the globe.  Consider wearing The Menstruation Bracelet (28 beads, five red) to make a statement and show that people should be able to talk openly about periods.

Providing Safe Ways to Manage Period Waste

Period poverty is not just about having access to period products such as pads and tampons. It’s also about having the resources needed to stay clean during menstruation and to safely dispose of menstrual waste. At SaniPod, we can help your school or business to implement safe and hygienic sanitary bin services, so the women using your facilities feel comfortable accessing them.

Join SaniPod in spreading the word and creating awareness for Menstrual Hygiene Day. Contact us today to learn more about our sanitary pad disposal systems. Let’s end period poverty in Australia and around the world.

Happy Menstrual Hygiene Day!