Pro Pride has started implementing ‘Menstrual Hygiene and Health Development Impact Bond in Ethiopia’ in March 2022 after signing a project agreement with CARE Ethiopia and CARE France with financial support from AFD and BNP Paribas.  The program intends to promote gender equality by encouraging the adoption of MHH practices and the changes of beliefs related to menstruation to empower girls and women and improve their place in society. This, among others, will be done through creating friendly and enabling environment where they can have appropriate access to WASH/sanitation facilities as well as other MHH related services.

The program is under implementation in Adama city and the surrounding peri-urban kebeles of the Oromia Region targeting students enrolled in 60 primary and secondary schools, workers of Adama Industrial Park, and Adama University.

 

The MHH program was officially launched on May 27, 2022, in the presence of all major stakeholders. 

 

Pro Pride has been implementing different activities to raise awareness and improve knowledge on MHH, create demand for sanitary products, and advocate for support for women and girls from institutions and communities through radio sensitization and health education provided by health extension workers and health facility professionals that were provided training on MHH.

Under pillar one, a radio program focusing on increasing awareness and responses of the community on MHH has been on air since mid September 2022. Other mechanisms such as orientations, training, street shows, spots, social media platforms, etc. are also being used to promote MHH in the intervention areas. Training on MHH has been given to health extension workers and health professionals working in health facilities. Similarly, training has been given to school girls’ clubs and sanitation clubs to increase their engagement in the promotion of healthy MHH practices and support for adolescent girls and women.   

 

Under pillar two, agreements have been signed between Pro Pride and ‘Mella for Her’ for the supply of reusable sanitary pads to be distributed for students, factory workers, and other women among the community in the intervention areas on a subsidy basis. 

 

Under pillar three, an agreement has been signed with three different contractors and the construction and renovation of sanitary facilities in target schools is already underway.