Candice Chirwa has made it her life's mission to make menstrual health management a global human right.
The minister of menstruation, as she is fondly known, uses her stellar prowess in academics and the NGO sector to change how society views menstruation. Last week, the 25-year-old started her first monthly online stream called "The State of the Period Address" on her Twitter, Facebook and YouTube where she speaks to guests about different period topics.
"I am passionate about menstrual education because every time a young person starts menstruating, this biological event is usually met with silence or fear, and never celebration. The countless period taboos and stigmas that exist and place restrictive behaviours onto menstruators is something that always motivates me. In essence, it’s about dispelling these myths and giving menstruators the knowledge and tools that navigate their world through the menstrual workshops I host," she said.
Chirwa, who is a TEDx speaker on menstruation, wrote her international relations master's thesis on menstrual health management.
"I have an avid interest in gender studies through a Human Rights Len. I recently graduated from a Master's of Arts in International Relations, and my research was focused on menstrual health and unpacking why it should be considered a human rights issue for states," she said.
Chirwa said policy on menstrual health management is slowly transforming in SA but there is no funding for education in this space.
I want to change the narrative of how we see periods. When I think of countries that throw period parties for first-time menstruators, I think it’s integral and needed in South Africa.
"The challenge is that it’s hard to engage certain communities and different provinces due to the lack of funding for this issue. Menstrual health management is slowly entering the policy space in South Africa, therefore, attention isn’t on menstrual education because policy in particular around education hasn’t been set. So if there isn’t policy attention, there won’t be funding to support initiatives such as the menstrual workshops I run," she said.
She told Sowetan that in order for menstrual health awareness to be made a priority, the different sectors of government such as sanitation, education and health sector need to work together. Although she faces many challenges in this space, she still enjoys making a difference in people's lives.
"I enjoy the work I do, because ultimately it means that young girls, young boys, teachers, adults, elders ... whoever come across our workshops ... are feeling empowered and educated on a natural biological function. It is also fun because participants, in particular girls, get to leave the workshop feeling very empowered about their bodies and being able to openly say the word 'vagina'," said Chirwa.
In the future, the young game-changer would like to have more reach in different provinces and schools.
"I want to change the narrative of how we see periods. When I think of countries that throw period parties for first-time menstruators, I think it’s integral and needed in South Africa. I’d also love to create a different form of content for young kids to learn about their bodies, so that there is always a resource to refer to," she said.
ledwabak@sowetan.co.za
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