International Day for Action on Women's Health: Why women's health matters

The International Day of Action for Women's Health is celebrated every year on May 28 (Image: Shutterstock)

From time immemorial, matters women’s sexual reproductive health were discussed in whispers. From childhood, for example, girls were brought up thinking their monthly period are not to be discussed.

The discomfort around matters menstruation can be dated back to primary school days where girls hid their sanitary pads in their sweaters or sleeves. Rather than speak of them, they would euphemise them as bread slices with jam to stop boys from guessing what they were talking about.