Cazenga – Angola Secretary of State for Family and Women's Promotion, Alcina Cunha, defended on Wednesday the promotion of sex education in schools and communities, for a ‘healthy and positive understanding of this natural process’.
Speaking at the opening of the 2nd National Conference on Menstrual Hygiene and Education, the official said the Angolan government is carrying out a project, with technical and financial support, on sexual and reproductive health to reduce gender inequality.
According to Alcina Cunha, the project involves the departments of Social Action, Family and Women's Promotion and Youth and Sports, as well as partners in training and capacity building for girls and women in urban, sub-urban and rural areas.
‘We need to work together to promote sex education in schools and communities so that there is a healthy and positive understanding of this natural process,’ the official said.
The official pointed out that the lack of safe and private sanitary facilities in homes, schools, workplaces and a public road not only affects public health, but also women's dignity.
Menstruation is a natural phase of life for all women in the world, the official said, underlining that unfortunately it is still surrounded by taboos, gender inequality, sexual abuse, child marriages ‘and often religious beliefs’.
In her opinion, these taboos impoverish women and girls, since they think they are ready to fulfill their sexual and marital life.
The coordinator of the African Youth and Adolescent Network on Population and Development (Afriyan), Yolanda Miguel, said advocacy work is being promoted with the governments of some provinces to bring information to all girls and women.
Luanda, Benguela, Huíla, Cunene and Namibe are the provinces involved in the process of passing on information to women and girls, many of whom ‘don't know about the menstrual cycle and suffer when it happens in schools’.
For the Secretary of State, it is necessary to end the taboo, and girls must accept their state and condition.
The conference was held under the slogan: ‘For menstrual dignity and health for all women and girls, as well as innovation and solutions’. PLA/ACS/DAN/AMP
