The IFMSA, specifically the Sexual and Reproductive Health Section (SCORA), organized a menstrual hygiene collection on Menstrual Hygiene Day, which took place at all 8 medical faculties in the country. At Masaryk University it was held at several faculties and in two cafes in Brno. The aim of this initiative was to raise awareness about menstrual poverty and to help women and girls who do not have access to basic hygiene products.
Menstrual Hygiene Day, which falls on 28 May, is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of menstrual hygiene and addressing the problems associated with menstrual poverty. Menstrual poverty affects millions of women and girls around the world, including our community. Lack of access to menstrual needs can lead to school absenteeism, work absenteeism, and an overall decrease in quality of life.
The collection took place in May across the country at all 8 medical schools. Specifically in Brno, it ran from 23 May to 3 June 2024, with collection points located at the University Campus, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Studies and Mitte Spital and Coffee Trail Garden cafes. This was the second time the event was held at our faculty, this year it was organized by Matěj Plevák and Daniela Štefaničková, who organized it for the first time last year in cooperation with Martina Poláková.
Thanks to the generosity and solidarity of many individuals, a large amount of menstrual supplies were collected. In total:
As last year, the selected menstrual supplies were handed over to the Medici na ulici (Medics on the street) association in Brno, which focuses on providing health care and support to homeless people. "Thank you very much to everyone who participated in the collection of menstrual supplies for the homeless people we regularly treat. We provide pads, tampons and panties to our clients while they are being treated and also do our best to educate them on the issue. Homeless women are very grateful for these aids, which they cannot otherwise afford," says Štěpán Matyska of Medics on the Street.
The distribution of the collection at other faculties is in cooperation with the Sola Helps association, which deals specifically with menstrual poverty.
"We are definitely planning to repeat the event next year, probably earlier in May, as many faculties had already finished teaching at the time of the collection and we believe that together we will be able to collect even more," says Matěj, the co-organiser of the collection. "We would like to thank everyone who participated. Your support has been invaluable and has helped change the lives of many women and girls. Together we can help to make menstrual hygiene not a luxury but a basic right for every woman," adds Daniela.
Dr. Jana Djakow and Associate Professor Martina Kosinová from the Department of Simulation Medicine at Masaryk University Faculty of Medicine were the first women in the Czech Republic to receive degrees from international professional societies in the field of resuscitation and anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine, respectively.
At the beginning of November, six graduates of the Faculty of Medicine received the Masaryk University Vice-Rector's Award for Excellence in Doctoral Studies.
