Menstrual health and hygiene are crucial aspects that significantly impact women, girls, and menstruators worldwide. The absence of proper menstrual hygiene management (MHM) not only affects individual well-being but also extends its negative repercussions across various sectors. Recognizing this, the World Bank adopts a comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy to enhance menstrual hygiene practices globally.

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) are vital for the empowerment and welfare of women and adolescent girls. With over 300 million women menstruating daily and about 500 million lacking access to essential menstrual products and facilities, addressing this issue is imperative. Access to water, sanitation, hygiene facilities, affordable menstrual products, and education on proper practices are essential for managing menstruation effectively and with dignity.

Menstrual hygiene management involves using clean materials for absorbing menstrual blood, changing them privately as needed, maintaining personal hygiene, and having access to safe disposal facilities. However, societal taboos and norms often restrict menstruators, leading to unhygienic practices, misinformation, stigma, and even gender-based violence. This, in turn, exacerbates inequalities, impacting education, health, safety, and overall human development for women and girls.

Improving menstrual hygiene requires a holistic approach that integrates infrastructure development, education, and policy interventions. In low-income countries, inadequate sanitation facilities in schools lead to girls missing classes or dropping out during menstruation. Providing female-friendly facilities, educating both genders on menstruation, and offering menstrual products can mitigate these challenges and enhance educational outcomes.

Access to safe and affordable menstrual materials reduces health risks for women and girls, including infections that can affect reproductive health. Promoting menstrual health contributes to gender equality by safeguarding women’s dignity and empowering them to participate fully in society. Addressing menstrual hygiene also has economic implications, as it improves access to education and employment opportunities for women, ultimately contributing to economic growth.

Furthermore, sustainable menstrual products and proper waste management are essential for environmental conservation. Disposable sanitary products contribute significantly to global waste, emphasizing the need for sustainable alternatives and efficient disposal mechanisms.

Through various projects in countries like Bangladesh, Eswatini, Ghana, Lao PDR, and Mozambique, the World Bank is actively addressing menstrual health and hygiene challenges. These initiatives focus on improving sanitation facilities, promoting behavior change, and providing education on menstrual hygiene to empower women and girls.

In conclusion, ensuring proper menstrual health and hygiene is not only a matter of individual well-being but a critical step towards empowering women, promoting gender equality, enhancing health outcomes, and fostering sustainable development globally. By adopting a multi-dimensional approach, governments, organizations, and communities can work together to create an environment where menstruators can manage their menstruation with dignity and without constraints.