Panafrican News Agency

Niger minister calls for integration of menstrual hygiene at all levels

Niamey, Niger (PANA) - The Niger Minister of Water and Sanitation, Professor Garba Katambé, on Tuesday urged development partners, civil society and non-governmental organizations to work to meet the challenge of effectively integrating menstrual hygiene management at all levels of the society.

"The sustainable improvement of the hygiene and sanitation conditions of the Nigerien population, particularly those of women and girls, is one of the priority areas of the Nigerien government," Professor Katambé stressed in a message on the occasion of World Day of Menstrual Hygiene.
 
He said that to promote policy change, fight stigmatization and educate girls about menstruation, the Nigerien government has integrated menstrual hygiene issues into the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Sector Programme and the National Gender Policy. Massive awareness-raising and training activities are also being carried out.

According to the Minister, many women and girls around the world face difficulties in managing their menstrual periods.

"Silence around menstruation, as well as lack of access to adequate sanitation facilities and hygienic absorbents in developing countries, directly affect self-esteem, reproductive health and the education of women and adolescent girls," he said.

Professor Katambé said that failure to address the menstrual hygiene needs of women and girls can have significant health and economic consequences.

Menstrual hygiene management refers not only to the use of clean equipment for the absorption of menstrual blood that could be changed in privacy, safety and hygienic conditions, but also to the availability of a sustainable waste disposal system, as often as necessary for the duration of the menstrual cycle, he said.

The minister said the celebration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day "will help to break the silence and raise public awareness of the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management plays in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential".

Professor Katambé said the aims of the day are to change negative social norms around menstruation, to engage in policy dialogue and to actively advocate for the integration of menstrual hygiene management into public policies, programmes and projects.
-0- PANA SA/IS/MTA/MA 29May2019