SANITARY TOWELS FOR GIRLS IN RURAL SCHOOLS

In Uganda, girls have a low track record of completing their maximum education level, one of the reasons being menstrual hygiene management. Studies show that only 22 percent of Ugandan girls are enrolled in secondary school, dissimilar to the 91 percent enrolled in in primary school.

According to World Vision International (WVI), in Uganda, insufficient Menstrual Hygiene Management in schools contributes to a drop out of up to 10 percent of girls at the primary level. The SNV/IRC study report (2012) on Menstrual Management in Uganda also shared the relationship between menstruation and absenteeism in schools by girls noting that 60 percent of the girl-pupils absented themselves from schools during their menstruation. The report indicated that on average, there are 220 learning days in a year and missing 24 days in a year translates into 11 percent of the time a girl pupil will miss learning due to menstrual periods.

There is limited availability of feminine hygiene products like disposable pads, tampons and other products among school-going girls. Even then, these products are usually too expensive for most Ugandan families, especially from rural areas, to afford. Desperate to stop the monthly flow, girls most often resort to using pieces of cloth, shreds of foam mattresses, toilet paper, newspapers, banana plant fibers and even leaves. Not only are these options ineffective and uncomfortable, but are also extremely unhygienic, putting girls at risk for diseases.

According to a report from Ministry of Education and Sports (2020), out of the 79% women and girls that experience menstrual pain, only 28% have access to pain killers. Very few schools provide soap and basins to the girls and female teachers. Thirty (30) out of the 152 girls reached reported to have lacked soap during their menstrual periods.

The report further indicates that over 50% of the 250 women and girls are either stressed, worried, scared or isolated during menstruation, not many of them receive any form of psycho-socio support. Only 15% of the girls of the 152 girls receive this kind of support from either mothers, aunties, peers, health worker or older sisters.

It is the duty of every citizen in every community to ensure the safety of all children especially the girl child. There are existing government policies in place to ensure safety and education of girls.

The Environmental Health Policy (2005); emphasizes interventions that respond to the differing needs of men, women and children, while recognizing that women are the main users of water and sanitation facilities”. It further recognizes that sanitation is essential for improving “women’s dignity.

Universal Primary Education Policy (UPE) 1997; aims to provide the facilities and resources to enable every child to enter and remain in school until the primary cycle of education is complete.

Our objectives as Joy for Children-Uganda include increased enrolment, retention and achieved learning outcomes of children in schools, and psycho socio support for children. We currently running a project, promoting the education and retention of the girl child in school through attending to their menstrual hygiene management and we have been able to help girls in rural schools by providing them with sanitary materials and soap. In addition, we provide psycho socio support to girls that suffer with challenges of pain and shame and encourage them to stay in school.

We thank all the donors that have contributed to this cause for your generosity and continue to ask for more support to further our goal of ensuring good menstrual hygiene management, mental health and retention of girls in school.