By Dungrila Pascal Mbimenyuy. | I.A.A Director/Project Leader.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
This project is designed to reduce gender inequality and gender based violence by increasing access to sexual and reproductive health information and services amongst rural and urban poor girls and young women. The project creates awareness about gender inequality and deliver training on menstrual hygiene management, how to make and use reusable menstrual pads and comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents girls and boys in Bamenda. The main objective is to improve sexual and reproductive health and well-being for vulnerable girls by training 250 girls on how to produce reusable menstrual pads and access regularly sexual and reproductive health products and services at the local community.
The overall goal of this project is to increase access to reproductive health information by providing young people with the knowledge and skills to promote their health and well-being as they mature into sexually healthy adults.
OBJECTIVES.
1.)To work with community leaders to widely disseminate reproductive health information among young girls and women.
2.)To increase access to comprehensive reproductive health services.
3.)To address stigma and discriminatory social norms related to menstrual hygiene management with health providers, media,parents, teachers and wider community stakeholders.
IMPACTS.
Menstrual hygiene management and family planning in Bamenda. I.A.A has trained and supported young
people on family planning techniques, on how to make and use re-useable menstrual pads in Bamenda.
Given that thousands of vulnerable girls are not able to afford a packet of menstrual hygiene pads, at
the current pricing, which cost at least, 1$ per pack. I.A.A continue to promote gender equality and fight
poverty amongst the vulnerable girls by supporting them with tools and skills to make and use their on
pads; to secure their on livelihood and reduce menstrual related stigma and trauma. I.A.A has trained and
supported directly over 250 girls and indirectly over 1500 girls between 10 and 30 years,since September 2021.
CHALLENGE.
Because over 70% of Cameroon’s population lives on less than a dollar a day, it is virtually impossible for most women to afford a consistent supply of pads at current pricing and distribution channels. It is estimated that less than 6% of the girls and young women who need a regular supply of sanitary pads can afford them. Lack of access to sanitary pads has contributed greatly to the disempowerment and disgrace of many young girls who are often unfairly subjected to judgment by a society that perceives menstruation as a socially undignified act.
To save themselves from shame and at times social exclusion, most young girls in rural areas will do anything to stop the blood flow, from using leaves and hides to rags and newspapers, consequently exposing themselves to a myriad of infections related to poor hygiene. The most destitute individuals don’t use anything at all and opt to isolate themselves from school and society altogether. This is further perpetuated by the fact that most rural schools have meager sanitation facilities, access to water, toilets, and waste facilities, which are all necessities for girls going through their cycles.
Addressing these challenges has become the preoccupation of the I.A.A. However, I.A.A lacks sufficient financial and technical resources to continue promoting gender equality by improving sexual and reproductive health of young people. With the generousity of individual donors, I.A.A would be able to reach out to many more vulnerable girls by the end of 2023.
WAY FORWARD.
As a complementary solution I.A.A will also host women’s and girl’s health and advocacy workshops, which are safe spaces for women and girls to discuss issues affecting them and access information that is both reliable and factually accurate. I.A.A will build a network of young community health workers to diseminate health information amongst young people. Fundraising will be continues and regular through soliciting funding through institutional donors, community events, online donations and more; to generate at least $150,000 to reach out to other parts of Cameroon and improve health and well-being for 1000 vulnerable girls and women by the end of 2023.
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