FIRST Lady Arya Ali’s mission to ensure that every girl has access to the basic necessities for menstrual hygiene has been a successful initiative, and it has been a testament to the power of collective action. However, Ali stated on Monday that she still has a lot of work ahead of her since she wants to broaden its reach to include vulnerable women.

She made this disclosure while giving an update on her brainchild, the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative, at the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown.

She said that millions of girls in the Caribbean lack access to the resources and facilities needed to control their menstrual cycle in a way that respects their privacy, dignity, and safety, and that some of them “don’t know” what menstruation is or how to handle it in a hygienic way.

The First Lady reminded that although menstruation is a natural and normal biological function and a sign of good health, stigma intensifies some cultural views about menstruation, which leads to girls being excluded, undermining their social status and confidence.

She pointed out that this is one of the main barriers preventing girls from attending school and performing well, along with the restricted availability of period facilities and sanitary menstruation products in schools.

She cited a study done in 2021 by the Ministry of Education, which revealed that one-third of female students in secondary schools in Guyana find it difficult to access or purchase sanitary pads, and over half of them require assistance in order to obtain them.

She related that the menstrual cycle accounts for between one to six days of school absence for 84 per cent of female students annually. She continued by saying that this supports the mounting data regarding the negative effects of period-related difficulties on school attendance.
First Lady Ali emphasised that a girl who is empowered to manage her menstruation safely, hygienically and with confidence and without shame, is more likely to stay in school and do well.

Moreover, she stressed: “Investing in good menstrual hygiene management to enable women and girls to reach their full potential is a measure to build the nation’s human capital over time.”

In an effort to eradicate period poverty in Guyana, the Office of the First Lady started the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative in September 2021.

Every year, over 32,000 schoolgirls receive free sanitary pads thanks to this initiative. The programme is designed to guarantee that all girls have access to menstrual hygiene products, irrespective of their age, socioeconomic background, or place of residence.

First Lady Ali said that because of the assistance of kind contributors, this “life-changing” project has grown, and in 2022, the government allocated $50 million for the first time in the history of the nation, to be used to provide menstrual products to schoolgirls.

She shared that the goal is to empower girls, dismantle obstacles, and build a more inclusive society in addition to offering a physical product. After achieving this milestone, she revealed that the focus has now switched to giving menstrual hygiene supplies to women, starting with those who are really vulnerable, such as those receiving care in institutions.

Guyana, she highlighted, is well on its way to becoming the first nation in the Caribbean and Latin America to give menstrual hygiene products to its women and girls at no cost.

She declared: “This would be a remarkable achievement for our country and by extension our region.”

Further, she said this would establish Guyana as a leader in gender equality on a worldwide scale.
First Lady Ali stated that she is dedicated to collaborating with a range of stakeholders, including governmental agencies, non-profits, and the commercial sector, in order to realise the initiative’s objectives. She noted that collaboration can have a significant impact.

The First Lady’s efforts towards this initiative were lauded by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who said, “Here is a young woman who uses her platform to do remarkable work for large numbers of persons all across this country…”
She pledged that because the First Lady’s initiatives are “well-thought out” and seek to reduce gender bias against women and girls, the government will continue to support them.

Earlier this month, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited donated $10 million worth of sanitary pads to Ali’s initiative.

The First Ladies of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Eloise Gonsalves; The Bahamas, Ann Marie Davis; and St. Kitts and Nevis, Diani Prince-Drew, were invited as special guests to the event on Monday.