In Uganda, menstruation continues to be a major challenge for teenage girls, especially those in rural areas, where poverty limits their access to affordable sanitary products.
The lack of affordable menstrual hygiene products has often compromised the health and hygiene of many girls and women during their cycles, leading to frequent absenteeism from school or work.
To address this, Sahara Charity Organisation has partnered with schools in Bukomansimbi District to improve menstrual hygiene.
This collaboration aims to reduce absenteeism and provide menstrual hygiene education, empowering young girls to manage their periods with dignity and maintain good health while staying in school.
Abud Twaha Matovu, the coordinator of Sahara Charity, explains that the partnership aims to improve menstrual hygiene in rural schools by teaching girls how to make their sanitary towels.
This empowers them to manage their periods with dignity, especially when they may not have access to commercial sanitary pads.
Learning this essential skill allows them to be prepared and confident during their menstrual cycle, ensuring they don’t miss school.
The initiative, which began with distributing sanitary pads at St. Victor Secondary School and Bukomansimbi Secondary School, plans to reach over 10,000 vulnerable school girls.
The program will teach them how to make reusable sanitary pads, provide menstrual hygiene education, and distribute free pads.
This comprehensive approach not only equips them with practical skills but also aims to improve their overall health and education experience by addressing the barriers caused by menstruation.
The two-year program, developed in collaboration with Miftah Lifestyle, focuses on helping rural girls access available resources for managing menstrual hygiene.
Through enhancing access to both materials and education, the initiative seeks to alleviate the burden of menstrual management, which has long been a challenge for many girls in rural communities.
Matovu states that girls in rural areas need support to develop self-confidence and avoid missing school because of menstruation.
He stresses that girls should have equal opportunities to attend school just like their male counterparts, without the fear and embarrassment that often come with menstruation in such settings.
Many girls, particularly in marginalised and remote areas, miss out on their education during their periods due to the lack of proper menstrual hygiene solutions, and this program aims to change that narrative.
“We want to break the stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation,” said Abud Twaha Matovu, adding that’s why they are stepping forward to give girls the confidence to understand that menstruation is a normal, natural part of life. “We just need to ensure they experience it with dignity.”
Matovu’s statement reflects the core goal of the initiative is to normalise conversations around menstruation and eliminate the shame many girls feel during their cycles.
However, the program aims to empower girls to manage their periods without embarrassment, promoting self-assurance and respect.
Christopher Oscar Kato, the founder of Miftah Lifestyle, and a key partner in the project, mentioned the importance of empowering young girls as they transition from childhood to adolescence.
He explained that the initiative was designed to help girls navigate these changes with confidence, free from the fear or uncertainty that often accompanies puberty.
Kato stressed that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relies heavily on the empowerment of young girls, particularly in terms of education.
According to Kato, ensuring that girls stay in school and complete their studies is essential for the country’s progress, and addressing the lack of sanitary supplies is a crucial step toward that goal.
“We’re committed to supporting girls so they can stay in school,” Kato added. “When you empower girls, you empower the nation and future generations. We’ll continue to support girls in rural schools, helping them share the skills they learn with others in their communities.”
Zahara Nabukenya, the lead trainer for the sanitary towel-making workshops, taught students the basics of creating hand-woven reusable sanitary towels.
She explained that this skill is especially valuable for girls in rural areas, whose families may struggle to afford commercial sanitary pads.
“We know that girls in rural areas often miss school during their periods, not because they want to, but because they don’t have proper sanitary products,” Nabukenya said.
Nabukenya added that they will teach them how to make their pads using locally available materials and support them further even after the program ends. She says this will also reduce the financial burden on their families.
According to Joseph Katabarwa, the Headmaster of St. Victor Secondary School, special gratitude goes to the program partners for addressing such a critical issue.
He pointed out that many girls and women in the area still face stigma around menstruation, making it difficult for them to attend school or work during their cycles.
“This initiative will help girls stay in school so they can compete academically with boys,” Katabarwa said, adding that it’s an important step toward closing the education gap and ensuring that girls have the same opportunities as boys to succeed.
END
English 