First Lady Arya Ali continues to push for an end to period poverty in Guyana and on Thursday she officially launched her Menstrual Hygiene Initiative in the Region Two community of Anna Regina.
As part of the launch, the First Lady provided the Regional Education Department with 1,043 cases of sanitary pads which is equivalent to one year’s supply for the 2,051 secondary school-aged girls in the region. The project will go to every region in Guyana.
Ms. Ali pointed out that across the globe, there are young girls missing out on school because of period poverty and she is working to ensure that none of those girls are from Guyana.
“After the countrywide launch of this project, not one of the eight hundred million girls missing school globally because of period poverty should be from Guyana,” First Lady Ali told the attendees at the launching ceremony.
It was explained that the end to period poverty project was birthed out of a conversation had with someone who revealed that many girls in Guyana especially in the Hinterland region, were forced to leave school because they could not access or afford sanitary products. The First Lady found that report troubling and decided to use her influence and platform to do something about it.
“I did not come from a wealthy family, but my single-parent mother instilled in me the importance of education and now that I am a grown woman, I fully understand and recognize its value. It was impossible, therefore, for me to sit and not use my Office to fix this problem,” Ms. Ali told the small gathering.
While she encouraged young girls to speak about their menstrual health, she said she is aware of the stigma associated with this aspect of women’s health,“but I want to let you know that we must not let society force that upon us. This is about our health and we must be bold to discuss it at any time and in any form”.
The First Lady said the project should be seen as one which encourages and promotes support for girls and women by other girls and women, adding that “I want you to therefore recognize that the advancement of women in society also depends heavily on the extent to which we as women support each other – both through tangible and intangible means. So I am making a request as your First Lady for you to continue to support each other in every way possible. As you continue to support each other, I will be here, as your First Lady, with my arms wide opened, waiting to support you every step of your journey”.
Education Minister, Priya Manichand has highlighted the extent to which access to sanitary pads has affected both the attendance and performance of girls in the public school system. Aware of how taboo the subject of menstrual health still is in some corners of the country, the Minister implored educators, officials, and guardians to encourage and facilitate conversations about women’s health since these have broader implications for society.
The First Lady’s project has picked up support from a number of government agencies and private sector bodies. It is one of the many projects that she has embraced since becoming First Lady of Guyana.
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