-In Observance of World Menstrual Hygiene Day
BY: SHALLON S. GONLOR / shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY — Madam Janet Y. Lolemeh, Head of Female Forest Rangers Platform (FFRP) and instructor at the Forestry Training Institute (FTI) in Liberia has echoed the importance of menstrual hygiene for women and girls with a call for an end to period poverty.
Madam Lolemeh urged stakeholders, including school administrators across all sectors to unite in the fight against period poverty and menstrual stigma.
She said no girl should be denied education or dignity because of her menstrual cycle.
In a message commemorating this year’s celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day with students, most dominatly girls from the Sanniquellie School System on May 28 Wednesday, Madam Lolemeh said women and girls’ experiences with menstruation differ greatly depending on the area in which they reside.
She noted that menstruation is considered to be natural and controllable, however, many women and girls issue remains a significant barrier to education and general well-being.
She highlighted that the importance of menstrual hygiene cannot be overemphasized.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management.
Menstrual Hygiene Day was first celebrated in 2014 to raise awareness that investments in menstrual health can yield transformative impacts on girls’ and women’s lives.
The Head of the Female Forest Rangers Platform (FFRP) at the Forestry Training Institute (FTI) in Liberia has urged collective action to ensure that menstruation does not limit access to education, health, or opportunity.
“Menstruation must not limit a girl’s access to education, health, and equal opportunities. Let us ensure that our girls have access to clean water, sanitary pads, and proper hygiene practices so they do not miss school days,” she said.
Madam Lolemeh stressed the importance of early education about menstruation, not just for girls but within families and communities, to create a culture of openness and understanding.
“We can do more to eliminate period poverty and stigma to enable every girl to live with dignity,” she said.
The veteran Female Forest Ranger and instructor at Forestry Training Institute (FTI) in Liberia called for enhanced partnerships among government, civil society, schools, and the private sector to ensure that menstrual hygiene products are available, affordable, and accessible to all Liberian girls and women.
Madam Lolemeh’s message comes amid growing concerns about the increased number of girls missing school due to menstrual health and stigma issues.
Advocates have long warned that inadequate menstrual hygiene facilities in schools, especially in rural areas, contribute significantly to absenteeism among adolescent girls.
Madam Lolemeh championed social welfare initiatives aimed at uplifting women and girls, reminding the students that the journey towards menstrual equity is a collective one that requires sustained commitment and action.
Lolemeh donates sanitary pads
In a significant move to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, Madam Lolemeh, on Wednesday 28th May 2025, led her team to donate sanitary pads to students across the Sanniquellie School System.
This initiative aims to support menstrual hygiene management and raise awareness about the importance of menstrual health.
The distribution of sanitary pads took place at the following schools:
1. The Spoken Word High School
2. God’s Divine Blessing High School
3. Levi H. Martin Baptist High School
4. Shirley L. Harrison Memorial High School
5. St. Mary High School
During the donations, she reaffirmed her commitment to the health and dignity of women and girls students.
According to her, access to sanitary products is not a luxury but a basic necessity. “By providing these resources, we aim to ensure that no girl misses out on her education or any other opportunity due to menstruation. Let us continue to break the silence and challenge the stigma surrounding menstrual health,” she said.
