MHM Platform celebrates Menstrual Hygiene Day 2022 to break silence

On the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2022, MHM Platform organised an event titled ‘Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030: Celebrating Menstrual Hygiene Day 2022’ to highlight the importance of good menstruation hygiene management.

The event was held on Sunday at Hotel Lakeshore, Gulshan, Dhaka, marking the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day, according to a statement.

The MHM platform plays a role of coordination among three sectors- WASH, SRHR and private company to create a synergy and adds value to the existing programmes related to WASH and SRHR.

Most women and girls are hesitant to talk about menstruation hygiene in public due to a persistent stigma surrounding menstruation.

According to National Hygiene Follow-up Survey, 2018, only 53 percent schoolgirls have heard of menstruation, 30 percent female students missed school during menstruation and 34 percent girls use old cloth for managing menstrual hygiene.

The MHM Platform addresses these gaps in the current menstruation hygiene practices to ensure a safe, dignified and healthy environment for all women and girls.

Aligning with this year’s theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2022, ‘Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030’, MHM Platform organised the event.

The programme discussed different strategies to enhance the current menstruation scenario such as breaking the barriers through education, making quality MHM products affordable and available, upgrading WASH facilities for MHM, and disposing MHM products safely.

Hasin Jahan, chairperson, MHM Platform and country director, WaterAid Bangladesh, said, “The objective of MHM Platform is to bring those who work on menstruation and gender issues under a single platform and aid in implementing government policies.”

Numeri Zaman, joint secretary, Policy Support Branch, Local Government Division, said, “We have already addressed the problem related to menstruation prevailing in our society.”

Professor Dr Mahbuba Nasreen, PhD, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Bangladesh Open University and former director, Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, University of Dhaka, stated, “For many years, women have been facing severe problems with menstrual health management during natural disasters.”

Mushfiqua Zaman Satiar, Senior Policy Advisor, Social Sector, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, said, “Even in 2022, misconceptions about menstruation and menstrual health management (MHM) are still prevalent in the society, which is very unfortunate.”

During the event, a mobile app for menstrual health and hygiene management was launched.