Press Release: Mental and Menstrual Health Day On May 28th in the DMV Area
By Doshon Farad
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together the voices and actions of non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) for women and girls. More specifically, MH Day breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around MHH and engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyze action for MHH, at global, national and local levels
Poor menstrual hygiene causes a lack of education on the issue, persisting taboos and stigma, limited access to hygienic menstrual products and poor sanitation infrastructure undermines the educational opportunities, health and overall social status of women and girls around the world. In total, MH Day 2021 reached a record-breaking 566 million people with positive stigma-busting messaging. For 2022, the focus will be on translating increased attention for MHH into measurable action and investment. Together, we can create a world where no woman or girl is held back because of her period.
Operation Heroes Connect, Covenant House Greater Washington, and Tanya’s Place are sponsoring a Health, Wellness and Menstrual Hygiene Day Event on May 28, 2022 in Dumfries, VA The event will feature a variety of Health Professionals and Speakers that will educate and provide a wealth of information. This is a community event where all, across the DMV can come together for education, awareness, fun and activities. Organizers are asking for support from businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals to help raise $75,000. Proceeds will be used to provide funds for Operation Heroes Connect’s annual camp program. The program provides a free camping experience to local youth who otherwise aren’t able to attend due to financial restraints. Additionally, proceeds will be used to purchase Reign Premium Sanitary Napkins, which is the only line of menstrual pads in the U.S. infused
with the Nobel Prize winning material, Graphene. “Reign Pads” help to curtail many of the discomforts and health challenges so many of our women and girls struggle with i.e. lost days at work and school, painful cramps, heavy bleeding, embarrassing situations due to stained clothing, foul aroma, moodiness from unbalanced Ph levels, and a multitude of reproductive challenges. These products will be distributed to middle and high school girls, homeless girls and women at Covenant House Greater Washington and other shelters, domestic violence victims, women incarcerations, and girls and women affected by period poverty.
Event Coordinator Neavaly Touray made it clear the necessity of such a program. “The Justice for My Jewel Campaign mission is to raise awareness by informing teens and women globally who suffer in silence with pain, heavy bleeding, unhealthy menstrual cycles and the potential toxicity of tampon use. We want to bring light to a taboo subject that has silenced females from all cultures for many years. Our platform will educate females on the important roles of keeping a healthy cycles by encouraging getting active, health eating, healthy product choices and community awareness events. Women and girls are suffering from issues such as fibroids, Urinary Tract infections, bacterial infections and a multitude of reproductive challenges and I feel that this could be as a direct result of the feminine products or birth control they are currently using. According to the Women’s Health Network (NWHN), there are approximately 600,000 hysterectomies performed annually in the United States, and approximately 20 million American women have had a hysterectomy. African-American women are having hysterectomies 2 to 3 times more than Caucasian women. Just as the NWHN, I also believe that unnecessary hysterectomies put women at risk needlessly. Another situation that is happening, there are an estimated 16.9 million people who menstruate living in poverty in the United States. A study involving college-aged individuals who menstruate reported that 14.2% had experienced period poverty in the past year. An additional 10.0% experienced it every month. This is why I support the Menstrual Hygiene Day initiative. We as a country need to do better to support our own. I believe that if this campaign spreads globally, women and girls especially African Americans will be equipped with the knowledge as well as a healthy alternative for good menstrual hygiene. The silent suffering stops with the voice of our campaign.”
For more information, visit our event website at www.hwdayva.com. Please find attached an event flyer. If you would like to donate or have any questions, please contact Neavaly Touray at (240) 688-5531 or via email at nmtconnection@gmail.com.
