Completion of Menstruation Information Package Project with KISAD and KTTB – BRTK
The pilot project “My First Menstrual Information Package at School” has been successfully completed in collaboration with the Cyprus Women’s Health Research Association (KISAD) and the Turkish Cypriot Medical Association (KTTB). This project aimed to provide children with a healthy start to adolescence and educate them about the menstrual cycle.
According to a statement from KISAD, adolescence is a crucial phase in a child’s life journey, involving physical, hormonal, and spiritual changes. It emphasized the importance of completing this process in a healthy manner to have a positive impact on future life. The statement also highlighted the significance of family support and accurate health information during adolescence, citing a lack of knowledge about the menstrual cycle in various segments of society.
To address these gaps, the pilot project focused on providing children with accurate information about puberty and the menstrual cycle as they transition into adolescence. Three schools, including Şehit Turgut Secondary School, Bayraktar Secondary School, and Turkish Maarif College, were selected for the initiative.
The project encompassed three training phases. Guidance counselors from the selected schools underwent training on the project, delivered by Naciye Fikretler from the KISAD Education, Awareness, and Advocacy Committee. Families of 6th-grade students attended seminars conducted by Dr. Ayşe Zeki, a Child Psychiatrist, while 6th-grade female students received training from Assoc. Prof. Filiz Yarıcı, a member of the KISAD Education, Awareness, and Advocacy Committee.
Dr. Nilüfer Rahmioğlu Ramiz, President of KISAD, emphasized the importance of providing children with environments where they can seek information and answers about the menstrual cycle. She advocated for integrating discussions about puberty and bodily changes into the curriculum for all students, regardless of gender. Ramiz expressed the organization’s commitment to repeating the pilot study annually to ensure ongoing education and support for children entering adolescence.
