Kongo Central 2: Students receive hygiene kits and training in sexual and reproductive health

Female students at Mwenze Valela Primary School in Mbanza Ngungu, in the Kongo Central 2 educational province, received hygiene kits following an awareness-raising session on sexual and reproductive health and education. These kits mainly consist of sanitary pads, panty liners, and wipes for cleaning hands after personal hygiene, among other items. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, National Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It was also attended by several stakeholders from the national and provincial education sectors. Christine Nepa Nepa, Secretary General of the EPST, and Kenneth Ehouzou, Deputy Representative of UNFPA, each spoke on this topic. Both officials noted that the campaign’s objectives include combating sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies in schools, which are often caused by a lack of information. This awareness-raising effort is part of UNFPA’s program, which aims to integrate “sexual and reproductive health” into the national education curriculum. In the same vein, this United Nations agency is planning several other similar activities in the coming days. As a reminder, the world celebrates International Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28 each year. Célestin Zeula