OVER 30,000 girls are set to benefit from the First Lady’s Menstrual Hygiene Initiative, which has commenced in secondary schools across the country.

According to a press release from the Office of the First Lady, the Regional Education Department in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were provided with sanitary pads for each secondary school-aged girl to receive one year’s supply.

The schools have prepared a register which each student will be required to sign when uplifting their quota of pads. This is being done to strengthen the accounting procedure involved in the distribution, and to ensure that every girl child in need benefits from this programme.

Over the next few months, the remaining regions, Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will receive their allocation, and begin providing to the schools for distribution.

“Investing in interventions to empower girls to manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence and without stigma, so that they continue to attend and perform well in school once they start puberty isn’t just the morally right thing to do; it also makes economic sense. Investing in good menstrual hygiene management to enable women and girls to reach their full potential is a critical measure to build a nation’s human capital over time,” First Lady Arya Ali said.

Mrs. Ali related that when her office launched this project last year, it was with faith, hope, optimism, and zero dollars.

“I made the announcement about the menstrual hygiene initiative, and we waited patiently and hoped for the support from our partners,” she said, adding that the support so far has been overwhelming.

“I am most pleased, and proud that we are able to provide one year’s supply of sanitary pads to every secondary school-aged girl in this country at no cost to them. Of course, this will continue every year after this one,” she noted.

Having achieved this, the First Lady said her attention will now shift to providing coverage for women. With limited funding, she underscored the need for donations and fundraisers which allows her office to expand coverage for women.

Just recently, the Office of the First Lady, in partnership with Dilmah Tea hosted one such fundraiser, Chari-Tea, a tea party and fashion show at State House.

“Fundraisers like these are, therefore, very important to this aspect of the project, because the funding received from government only provides partial coverage for our girls. Therefore, we rely heavily on these fundraising events and donations to compensate for that shortfall,” the First Lady said.

The Government of Guyana has provided $50 million in the 2022 Budget towards this programme.