SANITARY TOWELS FOR GIRLS IN RURAL SCHOOLS

Menstruation and menstrual practices are still disquieted by taboos and sociocultural restrictions resulting in adolescent girls remaining ignorant of hygienic health practices which sometimes result in adverse health outcomes and high rate of school drop outs.

In many societies menstruation is discussed in hushed tones and unfortunately the ripple effect is that young girls are forced to drop out of school, while in schools girls require an environment that is supportive of menstrual hygiene management in order to ensure regular school attendance and participation. One of the strategies to enhance and retain girls in school is the provision of sanitary towels to needy girls especially in public primary and secondary schools.

Menstrual Hygiene Management is the way in which women and girls deal with their menstruation and it is vital for school going girls to learn about it.

Majority of women and girls in Uganda use homemade alternatives to manage their menstruation where 65%of adolescents unable to access and fully meet their MHM needs in schools according Ministry of Education and sports.

In Uganda, insufficient menstrual hygiene managements contributes to a drop out of up to 10% according to World Vision International (WVI)

As many girls lack access to affordable hygienic menstrual products, they are forced to improvise with rags or leaves. Affordability and availability of sanitary towels in rural areas have been a challenge due to high poverty rates making girls go through their periods without the items needed thus subjecting them to stigma and embarrassment from peers and other members of the society.

This situation has highly affected the performance of most girls in rural areas because most girls miss classes during their menstrual periods and this is due to lack of sanitary pads.

Poor menstrual hygiene management could not only lead to school dropout but can also lead to urinary or reproductive tract infections and affect the wellbeing of the student.

Joy for Children Uganda (JFCU) works in various ways to help ensure that vulnerable women and girls have access to menstrual health and hygiene supplies.

The Sanitary towels for girls in rural areas project helps to address these issues and create awareness programs, making both men and women aware of it there by breaking the silence around menstruation and creating supportive environments where girls can openly discuss their menstrual health and providing access to affordable and hygienic menstrual products that can help alleviate the psychological distress and social stigma associated with menstruation.

By supporting the Sanitary towels for girls in rural areas project   you can help Joy for children Uganda to;

• Provide information to young people to ensure their understanding that menstruation is normal and healthy and can be managed without fear or shame.
• Make adolescence easier and safer for girls
• Have access to menstrual products like pads and many more.

Menstruation is an important aspect of life to human existence because it impacts on the hygiene, dignity, reproduction of girls and women across the globe. According to World Bank, over 500 million children and women don’t have access to adequate sanitary facilities to manage their menstruation and girls as well of women are compelled by the circumstances to use rudimentary items such as rags, grass, mattress pieces, and paper among others.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda spells out the right of children to wit, the right to be taken care of by their parents as well as guardians, right to health and to live in a conducive environment among others. They have a right to education for their future development. However, menstruation amongst young girls has fundamentally precluded the successful realization of the fundamental rights of the children and as such; their lives have to a greater extent been jeopardized. This has led to school dropout, loss of self-esteem among others.

Whereas the government of Uganda committed itself to providing sanitary towels to girls, this has not been achieved despite the fact that sanitary towels are a necessity to the children.

Girls both in rural and urban areas suffer from stigma and the non-existence of menstrual services; they lack adequate and clean water to clean their bodies, no disposal facilities. In spite to the prevailing challenges, menstrual hygiene has been neglected by government and those responsible.

On 22^nd of May, 2023, Joy for Children Uganda participated in commemoration of the international menstrual health and hygiene (mhh) day 2023 in Moyo district in Northern part of Uganda.

Implementers of projects on menstruation such as Days for Girls, Plan International, Trail Braizers Mentoring Foundation, Ministry of Education and Sports, Inspector of Schools Moyo district etc exhibited different reusable pads. Some of the types of reusable pads exhibited included the menstrual cap, reusable pads, the traditional menstrual belt made out of back cloth. Overall, 353 girls participated in the activities of the day. 244 girls were primary pupils while 109 girls were from secondary schools. 50 packets of  sanitary pads were distributed by Joy for Children  all girls and female teachers who participated on this day.

 We also got an opportunity to encourage girls to abstain from sex to avoid issues of unwanted pregnancy since every lady who menstruates is at a high risk of getting pregnant once they have unprotected sex, also to make use of teachers and their parents to report in case they face any form of violence regarding their sexual and reproductive health such as bad touches, rape, and defilement.

The demand for menstrual hygiene products is still high and we are calling upon you our dear donors to continue supporting us to address this cause