Empowering Young People Through Gender and Menstrual Hygiene Management: A Successful Session by CYDI in Imo State
On the 26th of May 2023, Community & Youth Development Initiatives (CYDI) organized a one-day activity on Gender and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHH) for 56 students (26 female and 30 male) from 10 secondary schools in Imo State. The activity was held at Government Technical College Owerri and aimed to raise awareness and promote good practices on MHH among the participants, who are all members of the Peer Educators Health Club (PEHC) in Imo State. This session was a fall out of the Male Engage Session CYDI attended which was Organized by USAID Engendering Industries Team and Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation on the 19th of May 2023 at Protea Hotel, Owerri
MHH is essential for the well-being and empowerment of women, girls, and other menstruators. It involves access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, affordable and appropriate menstrual hygiene materials, information on good practices, and a supportive environment where menstruators can manage their menstruation safely and with dignity. However, many menstruators face challenges such as cultural taboos, discriminatory social norms, lack of information and knowledge, lack of access to quality menstrual products, and stigma associated with menstruation. These challenges can negatively affect their education, health, safety, and human development.
To address these issues, CYDI designed the activity to cover four key areas: social support, knowledge and skills, facilities and services, and access to absorbent materials and supportive supplies. The activity included interactive sessions on the basic facts of menstruation, the importance of MHH for health and hygiene, the different types of menstrual products available and how to use them properly, the disposal and management of menstrual waste, and the role of men and boys in supporting MHH. The activity also involved group discussions, Panel Sessions, and demonstrations to engage the participants and enhance their learning.
The activity was facilitated by Felxfame Enisire, The Executive director of CYDI, and volunteers who are trained in MHH education and communication. The facilitators used participatory methods and gender-sensitive approaches to create a safe and comfortable space for the participants to share their experiences, ask questions, and express their opinions.
The activity was a success as it achieved its objectives of increasing the knowledge, confidence, and skills of the participants on Gender and MHM. The participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to learn more about Gender and MHH and how to manage it better. They also reported that they felt more comfortable talking about menstruation with their peers and family members. They pledged to spread the message of MHM to their schools and communities and to challenge the myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation and gender roles.
CYDI is a non-governmental organization that works to improve the lives of young people in Imo State through capacity building, mentorship, advocacy, and service delivery. CYDI manages and supervises PEHC in Imo State, which has over 20 schools as members. PEHC is a club that promotes health education and awareness among students on various topics such as sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, drug abuse prevention, mental health, etc. CYDI provides weekly sessions for PEHC members on these topics as well as Gender and MHM.
CYDI thanks its partners and sponsors for their support in making this activity possible. CYDI also thanks the participants for their enthusiasm and participation. CYDI hopes that this activity will contribute to improving the Gender and MHM situation in Imo State and beyond.
