Poor menstrual hygiene caused by a lack of education on the issue, persistent taboos and stigma, limited access to menstrual hygiene products and poor sanitation infrastructure undermine the educational opportunities, health and overall social status of women and girls worldwide. As a result, millions of women and girls are prevented from reaching their full potential.
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together the voices and actions of non-profit organizations, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote menstrual health and hygiene (IHS) for all women and girls. In other words:
• breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes the negative social norms around MHM
• Engage decision-makers to increase political priority and catalyze MHM action, globally, nationally and locally.
Starting from the maxim that Investing in menstrual health is investing in healthy generations, this year we will focus on eradicating menstrual poverty through initiatives to reduce the VAT rate and award free menstrual hygiene packages to all girls involved in the regular education process.
The cost analysis for menstrual products shows that in Northern Macedonia women are willing to set aside up to 100 denars per month for menstrual health management, which is unthinkable given that the price of the most used and highest quality products is 150 denars, not including the price of medicines consumed in those days, as well as the possible absence from work.
The fact that a high percentage of 15% of the 1200 women surveyed are not able to buy any hygiene product, so they mostly use newspapers, paper or textiles to maintain health is also worrying. The data show that the number of infections in women has increased by a record 70%, and the cost of gynecological examinations ranges from 800 to 8000 denars depending on the severity of the infection. The treatment, which is usually with drugs that are not on the positive list, is over 7000 denars.
In its efforts to eliminate menstrual poverty, the JHR celebrates Menstrual Hygiene Day 7 times this year and demands from the government:
– subsidizing the price of menstrual health products and reducing or abolishing the VAT on menstrual products
– providing free packages with menstrual products for the girls involved in the educational process
– the companies in the toilets, in addition to the toilet paper, in the women’s cabins, to have menstrual products that will be made available to women free of charge
– There should be free access to menstrual products in the malls in the women’s toilets
– Free access to menstrual products in hotel rooms
JHR launches campaign Investing in menstrual health is investing in healthy generations. For that purpose, we made a FREE PERIOD badge, and everyone who wants to support our initiative and get this badge should bring a package of menstrual products that will then be distributed throughout the schools, in order for every girl to receive a free package of menstrual products! !!
Do not wait, join us, and come for the badge !!!