Her Royal Highness Princess Eeuphelma Choden Wangchuck is now the Patron of Red Dot Bhutan, a campaign to further promote and create awareness on Menstrual hygiene. Coinciding with Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women’s (RENEW) 17th foundation day, the Education Ministry and RENEW also signed two memoranda of understanding today to inform, educate and empower children and adolescents.
In a written statement, Her Royal Highness stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened menstruation-related challenges women and girls face around the world and that the need to address these challenges has become more urgent. Besides good progress in ensuring menstrual hygiene in the country, Her Royal Highness stated much needs to be done.
While menstrual hygiene day is marked on 28 May, the education ministry and other relevant agencies launched the campaign on menstrual health management today. The MoUs are part of the campaign and other initiatives will be carried out hereafter to mark the day.
“Menstrual health management is aimed at improving outcomes on education, health and gender equality for girls and women. It is about supporting them to have the confidence, knowledge and skills to manage their menstruation safely using appropriate materials,” said Karma Tshering, the Education Secretary.
The first MoU signed between RENEW and Education Ministry will ensure to provide reusable sanitary napkins in schools especially in rural areas. And the second MoU is to focus on various objectives such as to promote adolescent sexual health and rights, to promote menstrual health and hygiene and to prevent and educate on teenage pregnancy among others.
Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck also inaugurated a bus for RENEW given by the Japanese government.
Kinley Dem
