Menstrual Health and Environmental Hygiene

We are thrilled to share the progress of the Menstrual Health and Environmental Hygiene project. This initiative aims to promote equity and hygiene and to empower 5,000 girls in 10 rural schools across the North West Region of Cameroon.

Thanks to your support, the Menstrual Health and Environmental Hygiene project has already made significant impacts in the lives of over 3,000 vulnerable girls aged 12–22 years across six rural schools, improving access to menstrual health knowledge, hygiene products, and contributing to environmental sustainability.

Achievements During the Reporting Period

• 150 IDP girls and boys were trained on menstrual health and environmental hygiene at GHS Tudig, Mbengwi subdivision, increasing awareness, promoting inclusivity, and creating a favorable school environment where all students can thrive.
• 50 IDP girls received reusable sanitary pads, enabling them to safely and confidently manage their menstruation with dignity.
• The school restroom was equipped with disposable pads and other sanitary items, improving immediate access to menstrual hygiene support.

Lessons Learned

While the project significantly improved the menstrual health of vulnerable girls, it also revealed other urgent issues:

• Knowledge gaps: Pre-training survey revealed that 90% of girls, particularly IDPs in rural communities, still lack knowledge and access to tools to manage their periods with dignity. This highlights the need to scale interventions in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
• Limited WASH infrastructure continues to hamper safe menstrual hygiene management in schools.
• High rates of school dropout among girls persist, driven by poverty, early pregnancy, and displacement.
• Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a serious threat to girls’ safety and well-being. Urgent, targeted action is required, especially in rural and conflict-affected communities where women and girls bear the heaviest burden.
• Limited resources restrict the reach of interventions to more schools, communities, and girls.
• Insufficient financial allocation to WASH programs and projects in Cameroon further hinders sustainable progress.

This project is a significant step toward amplifying the voices of girls and ensuring their rights are respected. It empowers young girls to make informed decisions about their bodies while reducing anxiety and confusion around menstruation.

We invite you to continue supporting our efforts to create a more equitable future for all people who menstruate. With your continued support, we can reach more girls and ensure access to comprehensive, age-appropriate, and medically accurate menstrual health education and products.

Visit https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/menstrual-health-and-environmental-hygiene/ to donate. Every contribution counts—no amount is too small.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors, partners, and supporters.

Together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of young girls.

Thank you for your continued support

Afor Rene Aza'ah

Executive Director - LISUDEV

Links:

• http://www.lisudevcm.org
• LinkedIn