A UNICEF delegation was on Tuesday March 3, 2021 at the Gounghin mixed school in Ouagadougou. Accompanied by the resident representative of UNICEF in Burkina Faso, the objective was to sensitize students, girls and boys, on the hygienic management of periods in schools as part of International Women’s Day.
In Burkina Faso, statistics have shown that dropping out of school affects young girls more than boys. Several reasons have been given to explain this situation, including the hygienic management of menstruation. Indeed, not knowing how to manage their periods in a healthy way at school, many girls are absent during their menstrual period. Others even end up giving up.
It is to stop this flow of school dropouts among young girls and break the ice around the issue that UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, Literacy and the Promotion of National Languages, started an awareness campaign on the promotion of the hygienic management of menstruation in establishments.
For UNICEF Resident Representative Sandra Lattouf, it is important to discuss this subject openly, transparently and without taboos, because it is important and affects education. “According to a study carried out in Burkina Faso and Niger, 21% of children do not come to school because of menstruation,” she declared while stressing the impact that menstruation can have on education.
- UNICEF Burkina Faso Resident Representative Sandra Lattouf
Periods are natural phenomena
So on Wednesday March 3, 2021, it was the turn of the students of the Gounghin mixed school to welcome UNICEF and its collaborators to discuss. This meeting is part of March 8 and aims to equip young girls and boys on the issue of periods, very often seen as a taboo in conversations.
Through the presentation of the genitals of women and men, the facilitators of the day made high school students aware of the origin of periods in girls. From pain during blood flow to protection, they urged them to always talk to their parents when they see a change in their body. “Periods are natural phenomena, there is no need to be afraid or ashamed to have them. You just have to talk to parents about it and ask for advice.” Said Awa Nadine Wassonguema / Dipama, focal point for the management of menstruation in the Directorate for the Promotion of Inclusive Education, Girls’ Education and Gender.
- Awa Nadine Wassonguema / Dipama, period management focal point at the Directorate for the Promotion of Inclusive Education, Girls’ Education and Gender
It was an opportunity for her to show girls how to protect themselves effectively when they are menstruating. These include the use of single-use sanitary napkins which require spending every month, and reusable ones that are washed and dried in the sun.
The boys also took part in this awareness session and learned how they can help girls manage their periods at school, and not laugh after their clothes are stained with blood.
Boys pledged to support girls
According to the provincial director of post-primary and secondary education of Kadiogo, representing the secretary general of the Center region, Evariste Béréwoudgou, menstruation is, along with reproductive health, considered taboo subjects in society, and this further complicates communication between children and their parents on the subject. This initiative is therefore to be welcomed in the sense that it helps pupils to have life skills in order to be able to ensure their future. “In Burkina Faso, the education that mothers have to provide is often incomplete. And very often they are ashamed to talk about things like those related to periods.” he hinted.
- Demonstration session on the use of sanitary napkins with the students
For his part, singer artist Smarty, also a UNICEF ambassador, finds that these kinds of encounters are necessary to break the ice on what is seen as a taboo subject. This allows young people to express themselves in their own words and the message gets through faster. And this message was well received by the students. This is the case with some students like Bandaogo Ramatou in 2nd A4 class and Diallo Salimata in 1st D class who say they have learned a lot from this awareness and are committed to helping others manage their periods. As for the boys, they said they were ready to support the girls.
Judith SANOU
Lefaso.net
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