To break the stigma of menstruation, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), for the first time, promoted Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) by integrating good menstrual hygiene in its water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs in schools, local chapters and communities.
Empowering women and girls is one of the main goals of the PRC’s WASH program of massive information dissemination sessions and workshops on good menstrual hygiene and social-media campaigns.
A kickoff workshop was held for selected PRC staff on implementing MHM in schools, communities and even during emergencies. Several experts from the Australian Red Cross, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Department of Education and the Department of Health were invited to inculcate the importance and relevance of menstrual hygiene.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually every 28th of May when various private sectors, humanitarian organizations and individuals come together to promote awareness on menstrual hygiene management. It started in 2014. The celebration assured girls and women that their periods are a celebration of femininity.
The PRC, through the use of social media, debunks Filipino folk beliefs about menstruation and promotes proper menstrual hygiene.