Background into the current situation
Many girls in Uganda can’t afford proper menstrual products and have no choice but to use improvised materials during their period. These options range from using rags and scraps of old clothes, to wads of toilet paper or newspaper, which are uncomfortable and ineffective.
Faced with frequent, embarrassing leaks and the likelihood of infections, most girls’ monthly period is a time of discomfort and shame. As a result, many girls choose to stay at home during their period, which has enormous consequences on their education and academic potential.
Girls who miss four or five days of school each month struggle to keep up in class and fall further behind in their learning.
Eventually many of these girls drop out of school entirely, increasing their likelihood of pregnancy and early marriage, while limiting their future career and economic opportunities.
Adding to the problem is that men and boys often don’t understand the menstrual requirements of their daughters, sisters and friends, which leads to lack of support and teasing in schools, causing girls further embarrassment.
What is Plan doing?
Plan will be working in schools with teachers, students and school health clubs to improve the knowledge and attitudes around reproductive health and how girls can manage their periods.
We will also provide training to village health technicians and key leaders in the community around the issue of women’s health so this knowledge can be passed on to the wider community.
An important part of the project is ensuring women and girls have access to effective, low-cost menstrual hygiene products.
To achieve this, we will work closely with local village Savings and Loans groups, which have a large number of female members who can sell locally made sanitary products – giving them a sustainable income while also providing girls and women with access to affordable products.
Plan also has existing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs in Lira and Tororo where this project is being piloted. This project will further develop the relationships already formed in schools and with governments to support sustainable changes for women and girls to live life with dignity where they can be productive members of society.
Photo: members of the village savings & loans group meeting
Project objective
- Select schools to work in and train government health workers and teacher trainers to work in communities;
- Develop hygiene promotion packages which will educate school children on menstrual hygiene;
- Conduct awareness raising campaigns in schools and communities in the form of drama and child-to-child hygiene promotion activities;
- Provide product knowledge training to the village Savings and Loans groups so these groups can effectively sell their products
What’s covered in project cost?
The $20,000 will go towards training and education of health workers, school and community groups, in addition to support of the Savings and Loans group.