HLPF 2018: Putting menstrual health on the 2030 Agenda

-

On July 11, 2018 Simavi and WSSCC hosted a panel discussion during the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, about “Putting Menstrual Health on the 2030 Agenda.” This event was the 5th of a live webinar series related to menstrual health management and was attended by over 100 in person and online participants. The event was moderated by Hilda Alberda, Director PMEL and Menstrual Health Expert at Simavi and featured Dr. Inga Winkler, Lecturer at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University, Irene Gai, Programme Coordinator at Kenya Water for Health, and Mahbuba Kumkum, Programme Manager Ritu at Simavi Bangladesh.

Thematic Presenter: Dr. Inga Winkler (Columbia University)

In her keynote address, Dr. Winkler emphasized the importance of removing menstrual health (MH) strictly from the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector in order to unpack and address issues around menstruation at all levels. She stressed that need to look at the numerous ways that women are affected by menstruation, and how menstruation is directly linked to many of the goals on the 2030 agenda.

Topical presenter: Irene Gai (Kenya Water for Health) and Mahbuba Haque Kumkum (Simavi Bangladesh)

Ms. Gai and Ms. Kumkum also called for a cross-sectoral approach, specifically citing Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) as areas impacted by menstruation. Ms. Gai and Ms. Kumkum also spoke about both the challenges and the progresses of implementing effective MH initiatives in their home countries of Kenya and Bangladesh respectively.

Discussion

After a lively discussion and audience Q&A, the panelists made the following suggestions on how to integrate and prioritize menstrual health within the SDG framework and national action plans.

Look beyond schools for implementing MH programs, there are menstruating women and girls who are not in schools who also need these services and are currently being left behind.Develop MH initiatives that go beyond providing pads. The preferences of women and girls in regards to their menstrual products should be considered and will allow them more agency.Promote a cross-sectoral approach to MH, with linkages to all the SDG’s in order to address all of the ways that menstruation can impact women’s lives. Menstruation is not just a WASH issue!Ensure participation of all, particularly those whose are traditionally marginalized or excluded. For example, indigenous women, women with disabilities, refugee and migrant women and girls, homeless individuals, and incarcerated women face overlapping forms of discrimination and are often left out of the MH conversation.There needs to be more systematic studies that gather disaggregated data that moves MH past pilot studies.When developing MH programs, consider all aspects and consequences of the program, including access to disposal methods and the environmental sustainability of those methods.Standardize menstrual health education as part of the national curriculum in schools.

As part of the MH webinar series organised by: WASH United, Simavi, World Vision, GIZ, activity of the MH Alliance. Link to the recording: https://vimeo.com/279541281.

This article was originally published by WSSCC

https://www.wsscc.org/2018/07/12/hlpf-2018-putting-menstrual-health-on-the-2030-agenda/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Canada Fitness Hunt Carnival and Competition commences in Benin

-
Image
By Our Correspondent Cross-section of Coaches in an extraordinary meeting in Benin All is now set for the commencement of the Canada World Fitness Hunt Carnival and Competition (CWFHCC) bid to hold from February 23 to December, 2024 in Benin City, the Edo State capital. The competition which will feature different sports such as Football, Performing Musicians, Board Games, and lots more, is meant to promote fitness and wellness of communities across Nigeria.  According to the CEO of Canada World Hotels- Chief Dr. Omogiade J. O. Edokpolo, the competition which is in partnership with Edo State Sports Commission, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Edo State chapter, Hotman Stinburge Etobicoke Canada, EBENCO Global Link Limited, Global Travels Ontario Canada, Folton Sports Equipments- St. Catrines Ontario Canada, Edo Progressive Indigenous Association (EPIA), and thers, will also feature celebrity guests and judges, music, comedy, games, fitness parade, and lots more. He sa
Read more

Edo Man O' War hold 2024 Commanders' Retreat

-
Image
... Unveiled political culture of non-violence public sensitization campaign for Edo 2024 Gubernatorial Election The 2024 State Commanders Retreat and Workshop of Man O' Nigeria, Edo State Command has been held in Benin. The retreat whose theme was "Optimizing the Potentials of Volunteers towards enhancing Nationl Security", featured presentations by several resource persons. The retreat also featured the unavailing of political culture of non-violence public sensitization campaign for Edo 2024 Governorship Election by the State Commandant- Amb. Odunze C. Eberechukwu. While delivering a presentation, the Deputy State Commandant Training, Operations and Rescue- DMC Onoha Uchena Kelly highlighted the importance of Commanders and members training in the discharge of their duties. According to him, one cannot embark on a journey he or she don't know about, hence the need for training and retraining. "Training can be both technical and vocational. The technical traini
Read more

The Man Godwin Obaseki: Getting the Job Done - Chris Osa Nehikhare

-
Image
There is no iota of doubt, irrespective of political differences, that Governor Godwin Obaseki has significantly improved State Competence, relative to his predecessors and across the States in the Country.  To achieve this, he had to rescue the State from private capture by ruthless non-State actors; this freed up public resources for public purposes.  He has held himself to a very high ethical and work-ethics standards, scrupulously focusing on the interests of the real people whilst staying on the Constitutional tracks in line with his oath of office. As a result, it was difficult to derail or defeat him despite uncountable battles in the judiciary and in other political machinations, orchestrated from high quarters.  Edo State is not yet on the mountain top, it still needs concerted push to avoid a free relapse or rollback.  The quality, intensity, ruggedness, doggedness and character of the next Governor is therefore so crucial that those lining up for the job should critically as
Read more