International Menstrual Hygiene Day: the parents involvement solicited in the menstrual education of teenage girls

Kinshasa, May 28^th, 2025 (CPA). – A call for parental involvement in has been launched on Wednesday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, during an interview with CPA on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated on every May 28^th of each year.  ‘I remind you the essential role of parents, especially mothers, in the menstrual education of their daughters. Parents are the first educators in health matters. By establishing an open and caring dialogue about periods at home, they will enable adolescents to understand their bodies and adopt good hygiene practices to avoid risky behaviour,’ has declared Israel Woto Shampa, a health professional. ‘The lack of information can lead to the use of unsuitable or poorly maintained sanitary protection, promoting the development of vaginal, urinary and even pelvic infections. Thus, the parental involvement remains an often-neglected link in awareness-raising strategies carried out in schools or through public health campaigns,’ he has added. According to Mr Woto, the families must overcome cultural taboos and guide their daughters from the onset of their periods, providing them with both safe hygiene products and essential emotional support. It should be remembered that in many communities, menstruation remains a sensitive subject, often surrounded by silence, embarrassment and even taboos. This taboo subject has serious consequences, such as poor menstrual management, which can expose young girls to major health risks, such as vaginal, urinary or reproductive infections.