The Irise Cova Conference - Usage of Menstrual Flowcups in Africa
Studies in low and middle-income countries have shown that many girls are not able to manage their menses and associate hygiene with ease and dignity. Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHM) products are important in their lives to manage their periods. The Cova Project, Irise Institute East Africa (IIEA), Educate West Point Liberia, and the Kyereh Foundation Ghana are a growing movement, creating easy access to safe and dignified menstrual cups.
On 30th September 2021, The Cova Project beneficiaries, Menstrual Health Champions, Civil Society Organizations, The Period Equality Network (TPEN), Development Partners, Government representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) gender unit Uganda, Ministry of Health Uganda and Individual Experts, from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Sweden, Australia, India, and Zambia convened to celebrate the gains of advancing the menstrual flowcup and to listen to young women about their experiences with our program and approach. This space was convened virtually by Irise Institute East Africa in partnership with The Cova Project Australia under the theme, “looking back, managing menstruation using the flow cup.”
Figure 1 Lillian Bagala The Regional Director IIEA
"Our goal is to see women and girls achieve their potential unlimited by Periods," the Regional Director of Irise Institute East Africa Ms Lillian Bagala noted while sharing the background to the conference. We recognize the fact that women and girls experience challenges accessing knowledge and products to manage their periods. This conference is to leverage interventions that protect, keep girls in schools and support them to menstruate positively, she added. Ms Lillian welcomed the Board Chairperson at IIEA Ms Deborah Asikeit who noted that Menstrual periods prevent girls from going to school, affecting their mind, soul and self-esteem. She called on other stakeholders to improve access to information, products, and scale the project throughout the country and outside Uganda. She reiterated the board's commitment to supporting the project to the end.
Figure 2 Geena Dunne, CEO, The Cova Project Australia
"The flowcup is a great space to invest, " the CEO and founder of The Cova Project, Geena Dunne, noted while sharing the background of the project, it was observed that there were high costs of the cups incurred because of high taxes and transportation which are major challenges. Stakeholders were called to enhance policy change and such barriers that limit easy access such as taxes on Flowcups. Geena was joined by the CEO of Flowcup, Ms Diana Lidforsen, who shared the genesis of the Flowcup. She informed the delegates that the company Flowcup was founded in 2016 in Sweden to provide safe, soft and more comfortable menstrual cups. She noted that the company was mindful of safety while using the product hence relied on community feedback, World Health Organisation and United Nations guidelines and advice.
Figure 3 Diana Lidforsen, CEO, Flowcup Sweden
In a panel conversation, the moderator Ms Patricia Humura the Programme Officer - Partnerships, Communications and Policy Advocacy at IIEA called on guest speakers; Ms Rosettee Nanyanzi the Ag. Gender Technical Advisor from the Ministry of Education and Sports, and Ms Agnes Ssebowa a Senior Technical officer from the Ministry of Health Uganda. Ms Rosette highlighted the MHM strategy in Uganda. While she narrated about the research conducted amidst the covid-19 pandemic and its impact on girls, she noted that the ministry had formed a coalition made up of line ministries, district local government, parliament and private sector to advocate for the inclusion of menstrual health and help stakeholders appreciate the impact of poor Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management. Efforts yielded results. According to Ms Agnes, the Government of Uganda prioritized menstrual health in various documents including the Health Sector Development Plan as well as the Human Capital Development Plan.
“The menstrual flow cup is the best solution for me because it does not burn compared to my experience of using disposable pads which could burn me and leave sores on my vagina.” A student, Kakira High School.
During the conference, we were honoured to be joined by beneficiaries of the Irise-Cova collaboration. The girls shared their experiences and how they appreciated The Cova Project and IIEA because it was an opportunity for them to menstruate happily without using fibers, or even miss school for a longer period. Most of them highlighted their confidence levels striking high and ability to engage in co-curricular activities without being limited by menstruation, such as netball. Leaving the audience mesmerised and thirsty for more sharing, the Assistant Coordinator Ministry of Education and Sports; School Health Unit Mr Ssemakula Henry reiterated the need to maintain good personal hygiene including proper cleaning of the flow cup to avoid infections.
Figure 4 Best Practices (Left to Right) Geena Dunne, Nana Akua Kyereh, Rebecca Anderson, Patricia Humura and Eluby Shaba
Delegates were taken into a session of learning from the best practices of The Cova Project’s global partners. According to Eluby Shaba from Malawi, before distributing menstrual flow cups, it is important to conduct menstrual health education to break down myths and misconceptions. Rebecca Anderson and Musa Sheriff from Educate West Point, Liberia noted that bringing a new product into a community requires constant information sharing and training, while Nana Akua Kyereh from Ghana encouraged implementers to engage community leaders because their perspectives influence the community.
Figure 5 Sharing about the Period Equality Network
Reflecting on the approach by the Period Equality Network in East Africa (TPEN), delegates were informed that the network is a community with 80 members in East Africa working at the grassroots to amplify voices at all levels on MHM. Collectively, the network approaches issues boldly with members.
The conference came to a close with a communique from the girls and young women to partners and the government to support menstrual health and hygiene management as well as remove taxes on menstrual products. If acted on, the movement will relentlessly push for the betterment of the lives of women and girls on the continent.
By Patricia Humura, Irise Institute East Africa