THE DEPARTMENT of Education showcased its #MeronAko campaign which aims to reduce stigma on menstruation and provide support for girls during their period.

The department, through its Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools Program, seeks to promote menstrual hygiene management.

The #MeronAko campaign focuses on educating learners, teachers, and schools about MHM. The program that won the support of Unicef was piloted in Northern Samar.

Last Friday, the DepEd hosted an MHM webinar titled “Action and Investments on Menstrual Hygiene Management in the Philippines” to educate learners on menstrual health and hygiene.

Developed in 2018 in collaboration with the Center for Health Solutions and Innovations, Inc., the campaign transforms the sad expression “Meron Ako,” commonly used to signify having periods, into a positive message. It affirms that even when one has a period, an adolescent girl can still do the things she wants to do and become what she wishes to be.

“[We believe that] healthy learners are better learners, and water, sanitation, and hygiene are crucial in menstrual hygiene management among girls. DepEd will ensure that our learners will reach their fullest potential by ensuring healthy and enabling learning environments. This starts by providing them an avenue to break the taboo on getting periods,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

The campaign also developed distance learning tools to reach adolescent girls and boys with MHM messages at home during the Covid19 pandemic. A set of age-appropriate videos on menstruation and MHM is accessible on the CHSI You Tube channel for teachers and pupils.