St. Mary Hospital expands outreach program to Afama Mino primary school (Ethiopia)

St. Mary Hospital outreach team has started a new health awareness and education program in Afama Mino primary school.

St. Mary Hospital Community Outreach Team with teachers from Afama Mino Primary School wearing t-shirts with the motto: “Menstruation is a natural gift for a woman; not a curse to be ashamed of”.

The intervention targets girls in 5th and 6th grade and focuses on menstrual health and hygiene. Trained nurses and teachers will raise awareness about menstrual and reproductive health, female genital mutilations (FGM), and positive health behaviors, to empower girls, and enable them to access healthcare services and improve their health.

Sr. Tamenech giving orientation on reproductive health To Afama Mino school girls

As part of the intervention, girls will also receive a kit including reusable pads, spare underwear, soap, for them to be able to manage their menstruations, and to attend school during their period, thus contributing to promote girl’s right to education.

Dr. Tsion, the Project coordinator with school girls who received reusable menstrual pads

The intervention is part of a wider outreach program focusing on mother and child health started in 2021.

A multidisciplinary outreach team visits Afama Mino, a village 15 km from Dubbo, to provide health education, antenatal care, and immunization services to vulnerable communities who cannot afford to reach the hospital.

The program is implemented with support from MISSIO.