In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kinshasa, in particular, the problem of menstrual hygiene is a recurring topic, often avoided because of the taboos that surround it.
Many girls miss school and prefer to stay at home, as menstruation is often perceived as impure, dirty or a curse. By the time girls reach puberty, they have very little knowledge of the subject and are often ashamed of the changes taking place in their bodies. Most of the reasons given to justify the silence surrounding this subject keep women and girls within a restrictive and discriminatory framework, with the result that menstruation is considered a taboo subject, a curse, a shame, a subject of stress and a psychological challenge for women and girls.
In addition to the above considerations, there are also external factors such as the lack of adequate infrastructures (lack of water, lack of latrines, existence of mixed-sex toilets, lack of school pharmacies, etc.) and, where they do exist they do not provide the ideal services for menstrual management.
This comic strip, "Kantu, pride for young people", is an awareness-raising tool designed to raise awareness and dispel misinformation, taboos and and stigmatisation of girls during menstruation. It is aimed at both young girls and boys, as well as the entire community to enable everyone to enjoy their right to information on menstruation as a subject of sexual reproductive health.