-every girl will get a one-year supply of sanitar pads, says Manickchand Ry d
Girls attending school can now feel more confident about their menstrual cycle with the launching of a Menstrual Hygiene Initiative by First Lady Arya Ali yesterday at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School (ARMS) in Region Two.
Speaking at the launch, the First Lady said that every school-aged girl in Guyana will benefit, and disclosed that in the coming days, she and Minister of Education Priya Manickchand will be travelling to other regions to personally deliver sanitary products and to speak to girls about their menstrual health.
“This initiative was made possible through approved fundraisers hosted by my office last year when I heard that girls were forced to drop out of schools in Guyana because they did not have sanitary pads to use because [of] experiencing their period, it broke my heart,” Mrs Ali said.
She said that globally millions of girls continue to miss school due to their mo cycle. However, with the i tive, she is hoping that from on no girl misses school.
“You girls are our future es and doctors, police lawyers and teachers. You the future leaders, and a point in your life should y forced to choose between h an education and staying because you do not have a to sanitary products”, declared.
She noted that menstruat a natural biological occur and a change that all femal through which they have no trol of. She urged women n be shy about their cycle an they should not be stigma about their periods. The Lady called on par guardians, and teachers to the conversation and not t away from the topic.
Meanwhile, Minister Education Priya Manickc informed that the initiative fully funded by the Office o First Lady and not by
Ministry of Education. During her remarks, she noted that in Guyana, many females cannot afford to purchase sanitary pads and that this initiative will ensure that every girl has sanitary products. Referring to statistics, the minister said that 26 per cent of students in Guyana cannot afford to purchase sanitary
products and often females are forced to use their pads longer than required. She also urged females not to be shy about their menstrual cycle and to be open to discussing the topic. She added that the Office of the First Lady’s Menstrual Hygiene Initiative is geared at ensuring that girls do not miss
school due to their monthly cycle.
Manickchand thanked the First Lady for spearheading the initiative and said that the Ministry of Education is grateful for the assistance.
Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva said that she was happy that Region Two was chosen for
the launch of the initiative and agreed that it is time that females recognise that “periods” are not something to be ashamed of. She also used the opportunity to laud the efforts of the Office of the First Lady for such an initiative stating that for years it was an unresolved issue that no women’s group ever tried to
rectify. De Silva urged the girls to make use of the sanitary products provided to them by the Office of the First Lady. Also supporting the initiative was Regional Education Officer Nicola Matthews, and Headmaster of ARMS, Lalljeet Rooplall.