SolidarityNow is the implementing organization of the Health & Menstrual Hygiene Program. This initiative is part of the National Action for the Promotion of Child and Family Health (2024-2025), led by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF, and funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, NextGenerationEU, Greece 2.0.
This innovative national program promotes the health of adolescent girls through a combination of awareness and education activities related to menstrual health and hygiene, as well as interventions that ensure equal access to menstrual products.
Objectives
1. Promoting Adolescent Girls’ Health
Supports the health and well-being of adolescent girls.
2. Awareness and Education
Promotes awareness and education around menstruation through targeted activities for children, adolescents, teachers, and parents/caregivers.
3. Ensuring Equal Access to Menstrual Products
Guarantees access to menstrual products through distribution in schools nationwide.
Activities
Within the program framework, SolidarityNow implements:
- In-person educational sessions for students in Grades 5, 6, and middle school across the regions of Attica, Central Macedonia, Central Greece, Peloponnese, Western Greece, North Aegean and Eastern Macedonia & Thrace, aiming to raise awareness on menstrual health and hygiene.
- Free distribution of menstrual products (pads) to all girls participating in the educational sessions, in partnership with the NGO IATAP AMKE.
- In-person informational sessions for parents/caregivers and teachers, aiming to strengthen awareness and promote positive, supportive dialogue around menstruation.
The Current Situation
Menstruation is a normal biological process affecting over 1.8 billion girls and women worldwide each month. Despite being a natural part of life, it is often surrounded by misconceptions, lack of information, and, in some cases, inadequate access to essential menstrual products. This can negatively impact adolescents’ psychosocial development, self-esteem, and school engagement, and in many cases may lead to exclusion or feelings of shame.
This context highlights the need for evidence-based education on menstrual health and hygiene, as well as uninterrupted access to menstrual products, so girls can manage their periods with comfort, dignity, and safety.
The Health & Menstrual Hygiene Program addresses this need by providing a comprehensive framework of education, awareness, and access to menstrual products. Its goal is to eliminate stigma, empower students to manage health-related issues, and enhance overall well-being and active participation in school life.
The program is implemented by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF and funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility – NextGenerationEU, Greece 2.0.