AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Sierra Leone this year celebrated Menstrual Hygiene Day in Freetown with inter-school seminar for adolescent girls and boys at the Waterloo Rural District Council Hall, on the theme “End the Stigma”.
The objective was to raise awareness on menstrual health for all. It brought together school-going adolescents from the Western Area Rural District and provided them with valuable insights on menstruation and other related issues. According to the organizers, the engagement was designed to break the silence and stigma around menstruation, offering accurate information in a safe and inclusive space.
In his keynote address the District Medical Officer, Western Rural District, Dr. Prince Masuba emphasized the importance of engaging both girls and boys in discussions about menstrual health.
He noted that addressing stigma at the school level was key to promoting understanding and inclusivity. He added that menstruation is a periodic process and explain the importance of the process for both men and women
The need for boys and girls to become champions of change in relation to menstruation was key highlight of the Seminar.
Dr Victor Popoola from AHF underscored the importance of equipping school children with the right knowledge more so on menstruation.
He noted that what is happening now resonated deeply with participants, who were encouraged to share their knowledge gained with their peers in their respective schools and communities.
