Lack of information and menstrual hygiene products, limited access to toilets or latrines, and taboos related to menstruation are all barriers to girls attending school- and ultimately these are also barriers to the empowerment of girls and women in all sectors of society.
The Government of Angola and UNFPA Angola began implementing a Pilot Project in menstrual health management in partnership with BeGirl Inc, and ADPP Angola is bringing years of experience in education and in female empowerment to the project. A coalition of organisations are working to address and identify barriers related to menstural health and associated gender inequalities. In addition to contributing to better health, improving the knowledge of adolescent boys and girls about the menstrual cycle and family planning has the potential to promote positive changes in attitudes among a highly significant part of the population, removing stigma and taboo and engendering greater equality between males and females.
ADPP Angola staff were among the 27 participants from government offices and NGOs/CSOs who attended virtual training of trainers in November 2020. ADPP has since run workshops on menstrual health, at its polytechnics Ramiro and Zango, and teacher teacher training schools in Luanda, Huambo and Lunda Sul. Students learn about the menstrual cycle and how to use the PeriodPanty and SmartCycle period-tracking bracelet. The students completed questionnaires that provided baseline information on knowledge and practices, and were all enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate.
