DKT Mekong Actively Participated in Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) Day 2025

By Yinn Mar Phoo, DKT Mekong – Posted on 30/05/2025

May 28 is the day when the world comes together to celebrate “Menstrual Health and Hygiene Day,” a global movement through media, events, and social media campaigns. This annual momentum sparks crucial conversations about menstruation, challenging taboos and myths, urging institutions, governments, and non-government organizations to create a #PeriodFriendly world.

Globally, millions of girls, women, transgender, and non-binary people lack access to menstrual materials, supplies, accurate information, and support due to deep-rooted gender inequality, cultural norms, and poverty. Poor menstrual health and social stigma can prevent menstruators from attending school, working or fully participating in society, costing them future opportunities.

Stigmas and taboos often lead to harmful misinformation, unhygienic practices, and poor mental and physical health outcomes. Menstrual health is a cornerstone of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). When individuals can manage their periods with dignity, their overall well-being and SRH outcomes improve. A #Period-friendly world requires collective action, which is why this year’s theme is: Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.

DKT Mekong’s Commitment to a #PeriodFriendlyWorld

This year, DKT Mekong joined the global movement to make periods positive and dignified for girls, women, and transgender individuals in Cambodia and Vietnam. Through online and offline campaigns, we reached 1,500+ young people with impactful messages and resources.

Collaboration with Green Lady Cambodia

We proudly collaborated with Sovanvotey Hok, founder of Green Lady Cambodia, an advocate for women’s health. Inspired by the #ICPD25 summit in Nairobi, she launched a youth-led initiative delivering sexuality education in schools across Cambodia. Green Lady Cambodia also promotes access to reusable menstrual products, menstrual health classes for boys and girls, washable pad workshops, and SRH consulting services for NGOs.

Well, this year we created, innovative “Period Tracker” booklet, designed to help menstruators track their cycle, emotional and physical changes, and ovulation days. We encourage users to monitor at least six cycles to understand their patterns. The booklet educates users, especially those with 27–32-day cycles, on how to calculate ovulation and fertility windows. We also addressed common myths, like the belief that having sex during menstruation can’t lead to pregnancy. (Yes, still chances to get pregnant but not “zero” because sperm can live up to 5, sometimes 15 days!)

Period Tracker Cosmetic Booklet by DKT Mekong and Green Lady – Cambodia

We also launched, educational video on how to use the “Period Tracker” on social media platforms, emphasizing that menstrual health is a key part of sexual and reproductive health. The campaign was supported with Fiesta, newCHOICE oral contraceptive pills, and newCHOICE izzi products, along with educational materials to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and lives. The video received an impressive 77.6 K views, likes, and shares, demonstrating strong community engagement.

Ms. Votey from Green Lady said, “I thought it could be a bit tricky to navigate since talking about contraception is a sensitive topic, but it’s a great way to start a conversation and remind women & girls that they (we) have #choices.”

A user commented, “I feel informed on receiving the book and contraceptives flyers & products. It’s especially great because I got to understand accurate information and key messages about menstrual health and contraceptive methods, including how to use them correctly for better effectiveness. Thanks for your meaningful gift.”

One of the attendees noted, “Being aware of and understanding a woman’s menstrual cycle matters. As a husband and a man, providing emotional support and empathy is very important.”

Another male visitor said, “Menstrual health & hygiene is not only a woman’s concern, it is everyone’s responsibility, including men and boys. Your engagement matters. Please join MHD.”

Vietnam: Uni Tour Reaches Youth with Knowledge and Confidence

In Vietnam, we took our campaign directly to high schools and universities across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, reaching nearly 1,000 students. Our Uni Tour brought bold, fun, and educational experiences around sexual health. Students loved the cheeky yet informative mini-games and were excited by our colorful new Fiesta products. One of the highlights was our live condom demo sessions, turning knowledge into real-life skills. The tour empowered youth with confidence, accurate information, and access to SRH resources. And this is just the beginning, as more exciting and impactful programs are on the way!

Students enjoyed the campaigns and shared positive feedback.

Vu Ngoc Minh Anh, 3rd-year student at Youth Academy, shared, “I found today’s program really meaningful. I used to feel hesitant about learning about condoms or sexual health, but the games and information shared made everything easy to understand and useful. I hope more events like this are organized for students, so everyone can get proper sexual health education in a fun way! Thank you“

Vu Ngoc Minh Anh, 3rd-year student at Youth Academy

Nguyen Thi Phuong, 2nd-year student at Youth Academy noted, “The program was really helpful. The experts explained everything clearly and in a friendly way. I even got to practice how to use a condom properly, which was really interesting. I was also excited to learn more about Fiesta, the designs are appealing. This event helped me see why using condoms is a smart and responsible choice. Thank you so much for the program!”

Nguyen Thi Phuong, 2nd-year student at Youth Academy

DKT Mekong has been actively working on STIs/HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education to reach individuals across Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Education and communication to encourage the adoption of healthy sexual behaviour through digital platforms and grassroots outreach remain key priorities for us. We’re very proud to collaborate with our partners to launch a fun and vibrant SRH education tour delivered in an unapologetic way that challenges stigma and empowers individuals!

References

By Yinn Mar Phoo, DKT Mekong