Give Clean Water to Kids in Africa

Celebrated on May 28^th of every year, Menstrual Health Day (MHD) works brings together the voices and actions of non-profits, governments, individuals, private businesses, and the media to promote good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls. More specifically, MHD aims to:

• raise awareness and change negative social norms around MHM, and
• engage decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyze action for MHM, at global, national, and local levels[1]

This year Splash celebrated MHD on May 29^th at Addis Fana Primary School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The school is large with over 2,000 students and the objective of the day’s celebration was to educate students, teachers, and the larger community about menstrual health (MH) and to help break the taboo that typically surrounds the topic. Key guests included Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau staff, television and radio reporters, and other local government employees.

An opening speech by the school principal kicked-off the event with an additional short speech given by Splash’s Director of Ethiopia. His speech highlighted the cautionary story of “Dinknesh”, a young girl who received no education on the subject of menstruation prior to her own wedding. At a very young age she gave birth, only to die from infection. The audiences received the story with full attention. Additional activities included:

• Music – girls from the Hygiene Club sang a famous song on the subject of “female confidence”
• Drama – a skitdealing with MH was presented. The key message covered how menstruation is natural process and that parents need to be aware and educate daughters before their menarche, how to use sanitary pad, dispose of it properly, etc
• Poems – two poems about menstruation were presented by a teacher and a student
• Music and dancing – programs music and dancing made the event more colorful
• Visit to new toilet block – key guests visited the brand-new Splash constructed, MH friendly toilet
• Brochures – more than 600 brochures about MHdistributed to attendees
• Ribbons – 800 pink ribbons were distributed

 Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success!

[1]https://menstrualhygieneday.org/about/about-mhday/