Dear all

we have just published and shared the Menstrual Hygiene Day newsletter.

It is a bi-tri monthly newsletter sharing recent publications, events, news around MHM.

Sign up for the next newsletter here: menstrualhygieneday.org

if you would like to contribute to the next one: please contact me under This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are happy to promote your work !


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Menstrual Hygiene Day Partners: About Us

Who are we? Where do we work? What kind of work do we do?
Connect locally or globally with the other MH Day partners! Check out the interactive map here !

Mapping Global Menstrual Taboos

In order to understand the different myths and taboos women and girls face around the world, we're assembling a menstrual taboo map.


Menstrual Hygiene Takes the Grand Prize at All-Female Hackathon

In an attempt in bridge MHM to technological innovation, from Oct. 11-13, we were at the Berlin Geekettes / Coca-Cola All-Female Hackathon* where we proposed the theme of MHM to inspire creative hacks.

Out of 27 teams, only 1 hacked on MHM. They developed a prototype for "Cuterus Leaks!", a playful game that educates about the different menstrual hygiene options that can be can used during menstruation. The game features a 'cute' bleeding uterus.

In the sea of brilliant apps that were developed in 24 hours, " Cuterus Leaks!" was voted the best hack of the weekend, winning the grand prize of 3 round-trip tickets to Atlanta, Georgia to meet with female senior executives of Coca-Cola. WASH United is planning to further develop this browser-based game with the group of 5 ladies that helped bring 'Cuterus' to glory. Here's a Storify of how it all happened!

Interested in more MHM meets tech? Check out MH Day partner Zana Africa's 'Nia Network' & Decode Global's 'Maya's 7 Day Challenge'.


From Taboo to Empowerment: Inspiring Indian Girls

Recently, we began testing our new MHM curriculum with our partner VACHA in Mumbai and SWECHHA in New Delhi. The curriculum combines educational games & interactive learning experiences that help the girls to understand menstruation better & take care of their bodies during those times.

"If we begin to talk openly amongst ourselves about menstruation then we can overcome the issues that keep resulting from this silence on the matter”, expressed Maria Fernandes, WASH United’s MHM Program Manager. After the training, Rejina, 15, explained "I will talk about periods anywhere and everywhere now!" Still in its pilot phase, the MHM curriculum will also be developed for Sub-Saharan Africa.


Learn more about our MHM program by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Upcoming conferences & Workshops

• 5th SACOSAN Conference : "Sanitation for All: All for Sanitation" Kathmandu, Nepal, October 22-24. Don't forget to stop by the WSSCC MHM Tent!
• 2nd Annual V irtual MHM in WASH in Schools (WinS) Conference , Nov. 21
• LunaPads will host a Menstrual Yoga Workshop on Nov. 24 in Berlin.

New MHM Reports & Resources

Invest in adolescents and young people: it pays , by Reproductive Health, September 2013

Girls’ and women’s unmet needs for menstrual hygiene management (MHM): the interactions between MHM and sanitation systems in low-income countries, by Sommer, M., Kjellén, M., Pensulo, C., Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2013

Menstrual Hygiene in Schools in 2 countries of Francophone West Africa, UNICEF, 2013. Available in English / French

Equity and Inclusion Training Final Report in West Africa, WSSCC, 2013. Available in English / French

Menstruation Education Discussed in Nairobi, UNESCO, July 2013.

Other Fun Stuff

#MHMMonday continues on WASH United's Twitter and Facebook

Toilets help keep girls in school. Join the campaign to "Celebrate the Toilet!" for World Toilet Day, Nov. 19 on Facebook!

MH Day partner RubyCup created this informative infographic on Tampons vs. Menstrual Cups