Theme: “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld”

HEDECS Cameroon, in its steady commitment to mainstreaming gender and fostering a more equitable society, proudly commemorated World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, 2025, through a series of impactful events across different locations. These initiatives validate the organization’s dedication to empowering individuals with knowledge, resources, and dignity, striving to create a world where menstruation is no longer a barrier to education, social participation, or human rights.

Empowering Young Minds in Bamenda: Blessed School Complex Bamenda

In Bamenda, HEDECS Cameroon focused its efforts on nurturing a “period-friendly” environment for young people especially girls at the Blessed School Complex. The sensitization session was particularly designed to break down stereotypes and build confidence. HEDECS Cameroon’s Health Officer led an engaging discussion, demystifying menstruation by explaining:

• The global significance of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th.
• The details of the menstrual cycle and its various phases.
• The female anatomy and its functions during menstruation.
• Crucial menstrual hygiene practices and the severe health complications that can arise from neglecting them.

Complementing this vital health education, HEDECS Cameroon’s Psycho-Social Support Officer addressed persistent myths surrounding periods, directly enhancing the self-esteem of the students. A significant aspect of this inclusive approach was the urging of boys to be supportive allies, emphasizing their pivotal role in fostering a truly “period-friendly world.” This initiative highlighted HEDECS Cameroon’s belief that achieving menstrual impartiality necessitates the understanding and active collaboration of the entire community. Following the insightful discussions, HEDECS Cameroon distributed sanitary pads to the female students, directly addressing a critical need and ensuring access to essential menstrual products, thereby mitigating potential barriers to their education and daily lives.

Fostering Dignity and Rights of female inmates at Bamenda Central Prison

On the same day, HEDECS Cameroon extended its reach to the Bamenda Central Prison, demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that even in challenging circumstances, everyone can manage their period with dignity. The team created a much-needed period-friendly space for the female inmates. HEDECS’s Psycho-social Support Officer facilitated an empowering talk on the importance of menstrual hygiene. The session fostered an open environment where inmates openly shared their challenges and the resourceful solutions they had devised within the prison setting, showcasing remarkable resilience. The event concluded with words of encouragement and the distribution of dignity kits, providing essential support for their menstrual hygiene needs. This ongoing effort is an integral part of HEDECS Cameroon’s project, “Strengthening the Rule of Law and a Governance of Justice Respectful of Human Dignity and Human Rights in Cameroon. IT’S WORTH IT!”, co-funded with the European Union, through which the organization regularly provides essential kits to female inmates and juveniles, reaffirming its dedication to human rights and dignity for all.

Driving Awareness and Skill-Building in Yaoundé: HEDECS Office Workshop

The HEDECS Yaoundé branch also played a crucial role in commemorating World Menstrual Hygiene Day by hosting a comprehensive workshop for female participants aged 10 and above. The workshop served as a platform for in-depth discussions on the importance of good menstrual hygiene and its profound connection to gender equality. HEDECS’s Gender Officer meticulously explained the rationale behind Menstrual Hygiene Day and explained how good menstrual health directly impacts a girl’s education, social life, and economic well-being.

The workshop’s objectives were versatile, aiming to:

• Address the persistent challenges and hardships faced by many women and girls during menstruation.
• Highlight positive and innovative solutions being implemented to overcome these challenges.
• Empower women to manage their periods safely and with dignity.
• Improve the skills of young people in the hygienic usage of dignity kits.
• Share valuable lessons and explore possible pathways forward in promoting a truly period-friendly world.

  

Practical demonstrations were a key component of the Yaoundé workshop, specifically focusing on the hygienic usage of dignity kits and the proper disposal of sanitary pads, in water cistern toilet systems. To further support participants, HEDECS Yaoundé distributed sanitary pads to all attendees, encouraging them to seek accurate information and continue advocating for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.

Through these different and impactful initiatives across Bamenda and Yaoundé, HEDECS Cameroon showcased its integrative approach to promoting menstrual hygiene and gender equality. By addressing the needs of students, confined individuals, and the wider community, HEDECS is actively working “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” ensuring that menstruation is understood, managed with dignity, and never a barrier to a fulfilling life.