Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to a user-friendly application that empowers girls and young women to take charge of their menstrual health journey.
In time for the global Menstruation Day celebration last May 28, Philippine government agencies and development organizations launched the period tracker app designed to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene among Filipino adolescents. Oky Philippines Period Tracker App is your go-to mobile application, created by and for Filipino girls, to effortlessly manage period cycles and gain a deeper understanding of the body.
The perfect companion for every adolescent girl in navigating through the complexities of menstrual health and hygiene management, this app was made possible through the partnership of the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), and National Youth Commission (NYC), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Australian Government (through its AUD-48 Indo-Pacific Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights COVID-19 Surge Response), and Plan International.
Here’s What You Have to Know About ‘Oky Philippines Period Tracker App’
Derived from the groundbreaking Oky app, the world’s first menstruation education and period tracker app co-created by UNICEF with girls for girls, the Oky Philippines Period Tracker App is an innovative platform inspired by its success. This empowering tool will be seamlessly integrated into existing government programs, extending its reach to a wider audience and ensuring comprehensive support for menstrual health education and tracking among Filipino girls.
Set to be used in the government’s sexual education and reproductive health programs, the event “Oky for you, Oky for Me: Say hello to the period tracker app for Filipino girls, by Filipino girls”, delved into current issues surrounding menstrual health and hygiene management, including a demonstration on how to use the app.
Oky Philippines Period Tracker App is available to download for free. As per Plan International Philippines, the app does not only feature accessible tools to help manage menstrual health but also contains helpful lessons debunking period myths and misconceptions that typically proliferate on social media—including an encyclopedia of information on gender, puberty, menstrual health, and reproductive health rights. What sets it apart is its commitment to inclusivity, as it also provides valuable information and support for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can confidently navigate and manage their periods.
According to DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, “The DOH prioritizes adolescent sexual reproductive health in our programs and campaigns. We recognize the need of adolescent girls to access accurate information about their menstrual health and are happy to have the Okay Philippines app as a new digital platform that can help them make informed, healthy choices for themselves.”
The app also includes DepEd’s Comprehensive Sexual Education and the WASH in Schools programs, which focus on students’ access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. This will also be utilized in the DOH and POPCOM’s “I CHOOSE #MalayaAkong Maging”—an initiative that promotes awareness and information drives on adolescent health and development, including adolescent sexual and reproductive health concerns.
Not only that, but the developers of the app also considered the diverse contexts of girls in the Philippines, including indigenous peoples, out-of-school children, and children with disabilities. This was also co-created with adolescents in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to provide content relevant to Islamic culture.
As per the estimate of the Department of Education, around 1.1 million of the estimated 32 million Filipinos aged 5 to 19 have taken lessons in comprehensive sexual education. DepEd’s draft curriculum for K–10 takes a significant step forward by proposing the introduction of crucial topics such as “sexual reproductive and health rights” and “healthcare needs and rights” as early as Grade 4. This forward-thinking approach aims to enhance students’ health literacy, equipping them with essential knowledge and understanding to make informed decisions about their well-being.
