Raising awareness on Menstrual Hygiene and Health in Adama in Ethiopia

Menstruation is an essential part of a woman's life. However, menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) remains a big taboo in many cultures and has been consistently overlooked, underestimated and underfunded in the developing world. Increasing knowledge and promoting best practices on MHH can have a significant impact on education, health, early pregnancy, aids transmission for women and girls, thereby increasing their chances to actively contribute to the economic growth and political stability of their countries.

The project will focus on the following areas and activities:

• Sensitization to healthy MHH practices and advocacy: improving MHH knowledge, creating demand for sanitary products and advocating for support to women and girls from institutions and communities.
• Production and distribution of sustainable sanitary products: support a strengthened and sustainable local market in the supply chain of a variety of disposable and single-use or multiple-use and environmentally friendly sanitary product types serving different needs.
• Improved sanitary infrastructures and waste systems: improve menstrual hygiene through supporting access and utilization of sustainable sanitary infrastructures in institutions and households.

The program is targeting 404,929 people in Adama administrative town and peri-urban areas. Within this wider population, additional targeted work will be done with an estimated 1,047 university students, 1,020 factory workers and 92,519 school students.