By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Anambra Menstrual Health Advocacy Coalition (AMHAC), Friday, validated and adopted the Anambra State Draft Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Policy and proposed Implementation Framework.
AMHAC-TWG, comprising civil society groups, media and government representatives, stated this at her meeting held in Awka, Anambra State capital, noting that with ministries, agencies and other stakeholders collaborations, there would be improved adoption of the policy which aimed at domesticating the National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Policy.
The Development Centre for Orientation, Discovery and Empowerment (DeCODE) which convoked the event through its Menstrual Ease for Girls (ME4Girls) Project funded by Rise Up Together, had earlier in the month held a workshop where the Executive Director, Cynthia Enweonwu-Arinze highlighted findings and recommendations from their situation assessment, which among other things included absenteeism of menstrual knowledge in public schools, inconsistent menstrual health education, pain management, and identifiable institutional gaps.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the Technical Working Group meeting, it was resolved to validate the Draft Anambra State MHHM Policy, validate the proposed Implementation Framework, incorporate the proposed roles and responsibilities of the Ministries and education agencies into the Implementation Framework, and to continue working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen their roles and responsibilities and support establishment of a clear inter-ministerial coordination mechanism to facilitate joint ownership and effective implementation of the policy
It recognises the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Welfare as a Lead Ministry for Policy Adoption but noted that they should work with relevant Ministries, government agencies and stakeholders to create an enabling environment for effective implementation.
The ministry would also support the gender, social protection, safeguarding and community dimensions of the policy, including interventions to address menstrual stigma, discrimination and harmful social norms affecting girls and women.
The draft also acknowledged the Anambra State Ministry of Education as a Lead Ministry to provide leadership and coordination for the implementation of the MHHM Policy within the education sector, working closely with PPSSC, ASUBEB and other relevant stakeholders.
Also, the Ministry of Health is billed to provide technical leadership on the health-related components of the MHHM Policy as well as to provide technical guidance, support integration of menstrual health into relevant health programmes.
FactCheckNg.com further gathered that the Anambra State Post Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC) will support the implementation of the MHHM Policy across public post-primary schools under its mandate while working with the Ministry of Education to monitor and ensure that schools incorporate menstrual health and hygiene, sensitisation and capacity building of school administrators, teachers and relevant school personnel.
Similarly, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) will support the integration and implementation of MHHM interventions within public basic education institutions under its mandate, particularly where the State Implementation Framework extends to Basic 4–6, while providing and maintaining appropriate WASH and menstrual hygiene facilities in schools under its mandate.
Likewise, Anambra State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) is billed to provide technical support on water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) requirements relevant to menstrual health and hygiene in schools in addition to development and application of WASH standards and guidelines that promote safe, private, accessible and menstrual-friendly sanitation facilities.
Others were Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) charged to support advocacy, community engagement, evidence generation and accountability for the adoption and implementation of the State MHHM Policy, and the media detailed to support public awareness, advocacy, accountability and sustained visibility for menstrual health and hygiene issues in Anambra State.
The AMHAC Technical Working Group while recognising that menstrual health and hygiene is a cross-sectoral issue requiring coordinated action by government, civil society and other relevant stakeholders, restated their commitments to a continuous collaboration and technical engagement towards the adoption and effective implementation of the Anambra State MHHM Policy, with the ultimate goal of improving menstrual health and hygiene outcomes for girls and women in Anambra State.