World marks ‘menstruation health day’
MANILA, Philippines — Did you know that last May 28 was “World Menstruation Health Day”?
“World Menstruation Health Day” was reportedly initiated by the German-based non-government organization Wash United in 2014.
With half of the 106 million Filipinos living with monthly menstruation, one can assume, that this is no longer a cause for shaming, bullying and stigma.
Nonetheless, studies show that many Filipino women and children still live with deficient menstrual hygiene information, limited access to toilets, taxes on affordable sanitary products, and scarcity of basic clean water.
On top of these, they also receive outdated passed-on information and behaviors about menstruation hygiene, still taught to this day. Not following the traditional rituals are perceived to result in comical and sad consequences such as illness, interruptions to or increases in menstrual flow, cramps, and insanity.
The Philippine Commission on Women, in partnership with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Modess and DDB Group Philippines, held a forum titled "From Womb to Tomb: Forum on Women's Health" on May 28 at PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The forum aimed to break myths and misconceptions on menstruation and menopause. The event gathered around 300 participants from state universities and colleges, national government agencies, civil society organizations, and women's groups.
“Today is Menstrual Hygiene day! And if you care about your mom, sister, daughter, wife, cousin, aunt, niece, girlfriend, grandmother, friend and about 51 percent of Filipino population, you should understand why it's important to get the right education about periods,” said DDB Group Philippines Chief Culture Officer, Anna Chua-Norbert.
“The stigma and shaming of women regarding menstruation should end today. Not only is it economically disruptive, but it hinders progress for all humanity. Menstruation is nature's way of ensuring human kind will continue to exist, and the fight to provide basic needs like clean water, toilets in the schools and no taxes on sanitary napkins is not a gender issue.”
