Menstrual Poverty still very much around.

{"time":1654091812730,"blocks":[{"id":"61jYn2ZVxW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I hated having to menstruate."}},{"id":"XGJIqgE7dH","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I started to menstruate at the age of thirteen."}},{"id":"MwEI5-rfkp","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The first time I heard the word mentioned was when I was eleven. Though i had previously known something about it ( as much as a restless eleven year old could garner from a compassionless nurse the school brought to teach the topic), the night it came left me confused. I didn't know what to do but wash my self. And it kept coming."}},{"id":"HroDRRTwDP","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I hated the stickiness, the itchiness and how I felt dirty. The pains was something else."}},{"id":"bWKkfTUlxf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I followed the traditional tendency to conceal my menarche. I was to travel to school the next day and I still don't know how I was saved the embarrassment of being stained, I didn't put on any pad. I guess I didn't pay close attention to the nurse that day to know what to do about my bloody mess."}},{"id":"zzN3JVkFbe","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The bloody mess, that was the name i gave my  monthly visitor."}},{"id":"llD35RUOaK","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I even prayed to God to take away those visits I detested so much. Boy, was I glad when it didn't come. Little did I know that it was normal when it skips for a month or two until some time when it becomes regular again."}},{"id":"m4XnacOcj5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Because I didn't tell my parents about it, I had to get pads for my self from the little pocket money I was given to help me get things I needed away from home."}},{"id":"HbKE1ImAmo","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Many times I had to use tissue paper when I couldn't buy sanitary products. Of course, that meant I was stained many a times."}},{"id":"mXKTnal6WT","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"A friend or two shared pads with me on some  occasion."}},{"id":"GD-WucN1tw","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"One of the great memories I have of my girl friends is the times we \"look out\" for each other."}},{"id":"u9E0P1SuXn","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"If we have to stand up in class or in public, and one of us is menstruating, the one having her period stands up last while the others stylishly check to see if she is stained. If she is, we quickly fix the problem either giving her  a cardigan to tie around her waist covering her backside or getting a pad or just anything that will help her not be embarred or reduce the embarrassment.  Girls looking out for girls, eh."}},{"id":"Em7Tz2f3t4","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I had cramps during my periods but couldn't take any pain reliever because I was told that it was all wrong doing that. It doesn't show one is strong and that I could become infertile from using drugs. Thank God, years later, my dad would give me mild pain relievers to help me. It did a whole lot of good."}},{"id":"pKp2tO54Zu","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"And many girls are still kept back by many myths and restrictions by culture, religion etc."}},{"id":"ZdXGIjL1sf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Many girls miss school because they can't afford menstrual sanitary products. They are seen as unclean and so must not mingle with people during their periods. "}},{"id":"p-KAioqKpg","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"By the time my mum knew I was menstruating, many waters had passed under that bridge.  Thank God for books! Through books I learnt more about my body and what was really happening to me. I started to build my confidence and be the bubbly girl I was again."}},{"id":"nfYoYp2zFB","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Today, having had three girls, I can only be grateful for menstruating, else how would I have been able to birth my daughters?"}},{"id":"lZaBhS8piC","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Something I had detested so much was all part of the process of gifting me  beautiful little humans beautiful."}},{"id":"47M_q3UUA3","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Today, I also see that if I had guidance and support from my parents or some adult, it would have been less challenging."}},{"id":"wiYaWwVhuU","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I depended on the little me and my friends knew. And you guessed right, we were ill- informed. A girl or two amongst us even believed that to stop Menstrual cramps ,one needed to have sex with at least five men."}},{"id":"SjfUo0Rv6W","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I don't blame my mom now for not giving me the Menstrual education I needed. Now I understand that she too was a victim to the menstrual silence culture."}},{"id":"3eONRwdZxh","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"My first daughter who is twelve now started menstruating a year ago and she had cleaned up herself and put on a pad before she told me.  I hugged her and said, \" my baby is growing up\".  I taught her to know her menstrual cycle. She is armed with a pad when it is near. She carries an extra  just in case a friend might be needing one. Her younger sisters already know what they should do whenever it comes. I look forward to those times because it strengthens our mother -daughter bond."}},{"id":"NQpUbVkDhl","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Yesterday, to commemorate the Menstrual Health Day 2022, I talked with  40 girls in a school. It was an engaging time as myriad of questions poured out. It tells me the conversation must be had as many times as possible until every girl has her questions answered. Until girls know what to do to have healthy and safe periods without shame or stigma."}},{"id":"7zbnhYBtif","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Menstrual poverty is still happening more especially with inflation of prices of goods."}},{"id":"r9mBJL4CRM","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Taxes have not been cut down to make menstrual products cheap."}},{"id":"g89mjxrYVq","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The government and many NGO's would rather give out condoms for free to young people, but will not do anything to help make menstruating not such a horrible ordeal for young girls."}},{"id":"L-Gos3Qs10","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Girls will not be awkward to inquire about what is happening to them.  It is a normal part or process of life afterall."}},{"id":"Xuqtq39HRc","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I look forward to that day when the Menstruation conversation would be normal ,access to a clean and safe place to use would not be a big deal and menstrual sanitary products will be as cheap as can be."}},{"id":"FfDIEUyRCG","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"I commit to doing my part of educating girls on menstruation and providing reusable pads to end menstrual poverty. There are more grounds to cover, and we are moving."}},{"id":"gCT8CLzx5n","type":"image","data":{"file":{"url":"https://cdn.worldpulse.org/images/7fEJsHidLNeZpykZk_IMG_20211206_140429_952.jpg"},"caption":"MHD2022","withBorder":false,"stretched":false,"withBackground":false}}],"version":"2.24.3"}