At Master’s Degree defense: Candidate, Ichu Blessing, identifies solutions to menstrual hygiene management.

The thesis was defended before a panel of jury on the campus of the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC, Wednesday, May 22 in Yaounde.

The 143-page research thesis was on the topic: “Role of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, on Menstrual Hygiene Management, MHM, during humanitarian emergencies in Sub-Saharan Africa”, with a focus on the Minwawo refugee camp in their Far North Region of the country.

Speaking to reporters after successfully defending the thesis, Ichu Blessing, said menstrual hygiene management remains a cause for concern in Cameroon and within Sub-Saharan Africa.

“During my research, I noticed that some of the barriers to effective menstrual hygiene in most areas are lack of space for proper waste disposal, cultural and religious beliefs where some families believe that the use of sanitary kits leads to sterility in women and poverty,” the researcher said. 

She noted that insufficient guidance was provided by response staff to beneficiaries on the basics of menstrual hygiene management.

“It is thus important for us to bring this topic which many consider a tabor in Africa to the limelight, and educate the community to change the comportment of the stakeholders involved in menstrual hygiene,” Ichu stated.

In her research, the female advocate made recommendations on a diverse range of menstrual hygiene products which are available.

Ichu proposed the implementation of sustainable and eco-friendly menstrual hygiene solutions to address environmental constraints as well as the establishment of strategic partnerships with international organisations, NGOs, and private sector entities to mobilise additional resources for menstrual hygiene management initiatives.

Her study does not only uncover the key components and strategies employed by the UNHCR but also sheds light on the impact of these initiatives on the well-being and dignity of female refugees. 

By identifying primary challenges and barriers faced by the UNHCR and its partners, her research contributes practical insights to enhance the effectiveness of menstrual hygiene programs during humanitarian emergencies. 

The significance of her study extends beyond the Minawao refugee camp, offering valuable insights for future research and contributing to the ongoing discourse on improving humanitarian efforts for women in similar contexts.

Speaking at the defense, her supervisor who doubles as the Secretary General of the International Relations Institute, IRIC, Dr Neba Ridley Ngwa, explained the choice for the research topic. 

“The candidate, though not being initially assigned to me, brought up a very unique topic of research that focuses on menstrual hygiene, a topic which is very important as it touches the very important part of the female life. The candidate did a very good job in her findings and recommendations to menstrual hygiene management,” said Dr Neba. 

Ichu Blessing Mbong, it should be said, is a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH project assistant with a local nonprofit organisation, Research and Development Without Borders. The native of Menchum Division in the North West Region, is a certified household Water Treatment and Safe Storage, HWTS, facilitator from the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, CAWST in Canada. She is passionate about water and sanitation hygiene. She advocates the rights of women, and empowers them in various capacities. She runs a WASH club at the Yaoundé International Business School. The clubs serve as hubs for promoting awareness, education, and practical initiatives related to WASH practices, with a special emphasis on empowering healthcare professionals to address water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges effectively.