The Ministry of Education has distributed 54,767 sanitary pad vouchers to school girls from Year 7 to Year 13 this year, Education Ministry permanent secretary Angela Jokhan said during the Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Suva last Saturday.
She said the menstrual hygiene program was a government initiative rolled out this year to promote positive culture and safe menstrual health for girls in schools.
“Menstruation and menstruation related things are still very sensitive and in a lot of countries in fact, taboo,” Ms Jokhan said.
“The idea of this initiative is not only about distributing sanitary pads to girls from years seven to 13, but also conducting education and awareness around menstrual health management for both girls and boys right across the country.
“Next year of course we are planning to include about 9000 odd girls that are in Year 6 that will go on to Year 7 and of course the 4000 girls who will be coming out of Year 13, and ensuring that the there is enough for about 65,000 girls next year in all our schools.”
