DUKATAZE MENSTRUAL CENTER: ENDING PERIOD SHAME

Menstruation is a normal and natural function of a woman’s body. However, menstruation is still a taboo subject that is surrounded by fear, stigma and shame. Menstrual hygiene is also a major concern, with many women turning to unhealthy materials because they cannot afford pads. Dukataze Menstrual Center is dedicated to eradicating the shame around menstruation, which brings great challenges, including teenage pregnancy.

During our visit to the centre, the founder of the Dukataze Menstrual Center, Amina Umuhoza, stated that they set up this centre because adolescents did not have sufficient information and safe spaces to freely discuss issues related to menstruation and reproductive health, which is a barrier to fight against a surge in unwanted pregnancies. “The establishment of this centre is also due to reproductive health disparity between children and parents, unreliable reproductive health information and poverty which prevent children from low-income families from accessing rights and services,” he added

This centre consists of various sections that help young people to be free and informed about reproductive life, including how pads should be used, techniques used by girls in different cultures, illustration of how poverty hit hard rural women who are in periods as well as painful experiences of menstruation girls and women.

It is a safe space that can help adolescents express themselves freely. Amina also explained the reasons for setting up this centre in Nyamirambo in an area that looks like a slum, noting: “Young people in the villages do not have adequate information or services, for example, there are people who think they cannot get pregnant if they take paracetamol, the Kigali Menstrual Center helps teach reproductive health without the shame while some girls get free pads.”

Dukataze advises young people; especially girls that they need to know what they want in life and work on avoiding what is holding them back from pursuing their dreams, including not getting pregnant at a young age if they have dreams.

Ngarambe Elizee Ibrahim, in charge of content at Dukataze, is a young man who is not afraid to educate teens and young adults about reproductive health and encourage boys to remember that they also have a role to play in solving this problem, and have to participate in ending unwanted pregnancies. “We want to shape responsible parents, including men, who are not shy about talking about sexual and reproductive health and rights .”

Dukataze emphasizes that reproductive health problems cannot be solved by one person but concerted efforts can help “We need to change our mindset and understand that these problems exist and cannot be solved by one person.”