Over 4,000 schoolgirls in Berbice to benefit from First Lady’s menstrual hygiene initiative

First lady Arya Ali on Friday launched the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) at the Line Path Secondary School where she announced that 4,276 school girls will benefit from free sanitary pads.

“Today, we begin distributing sanitary pads to every school girl in this region and at no cost to you,” the First Lady said.

Mrs Ali recalled that it was in 2020 when she was made aware that girls were forced to leave their schools in Guyana because they lacked the basic necessity of a sanitary pad for their monthly cycle.

She said even though it “broke” her heart, it birthed an evolutionary initiative that would empower school girls across the country.

“A period is natural…and… we should not be ashamed. We are forced to think it is a woman’s issue and it should be discussed privately but we should not let society force that upon us.

“This is about our health and we must be bold to discuss that at any time and at any forum”, Mrs Ali charged.

She implored teachers and guardians to encourage conversations about women’s health.

On Tuesday last, the initiative was also launched in the mining town of Bartica in Region Seven where one year’s supply of sanitary pads will be distributed to almost 1,200 girls in Region 7 in the coming weeks.