As March wraps up, marking the end of Women’s Month, we shine a light on the journeys of girls, young mothers, and a 38-year-old grandmother from Butaleja district. With other stakeholders, they urge donors, the government, and well-wishers to invest in women’s menstrual health, echoing the all-inclusive approach that AFRIpads offers. Menstrual kits, AFRIpads Underwear, girl talk books, training, period health education, and a group for menstrual discussions are all included in this package.
AFRIpads collaborated with Universal Health and Development Foundation to carry out an outreach program at two of Butaleja’s schools. Among them are Hisega Primary School and Butaleja Modern High School. Thanks to the John and Marine Van Vlissingen Foundation via the AFRIpads Foundation for their assistance.
A woman’s menstrual cycle affects her life in a significant way, requiring education and appropriate menstrual hygiene. Regrettably, Butaleja district has to deal with issues including a high incidence of teenage pregnancies, child marriages, and poverty that restricts access to schooling and menstrual products.
While conducting the training, AFRIpads made connections with a grandmother and young mothers who shared their stories. Sharon Apolot, a young mother, believes that she may have made better decisions if she had received earlier education on menstrual health. She claims that the AFRIpads’ period education and guidance on using reusable pads help people feel comfortable when they are menstruating. She emphasized the importance of reaching out to young mothers and schoolgirls, who have bright futures and should not be negatively impacted by menstruation. She also stressed the value of educating them about menstrual health and proper use of reusable sanitary pads.
Zaituna Kambejja, a 38-year-old grandmother, got pregnant at the age of 13. She mentioned that in the past, they used fabric to manage their menstruation. However, this often led to the fabric becoming soaked with blood, resulting in embarrassment when they stood up, and sometimes even getting seen by others. As a result, girls would skip school for an entire week out of shame. Fortunately, menstrual health education and the use of reusable pads like AFRIpads have helped to address any leakage issues and stigma around menstruation. This has encouraged better menstrual hygiene practices among young girls and women.
The Executive Director of the Universal Health and Development Foundation, Mwesi Yosia Habagaya, argues that girls frequently miss important classes and courses because they do not have pads. They also struggle to manage menstruation because of discomfort and other aspects like period pain. According to him, AFRIpads and Universal Health and Development Foundation partnership is an investment in the menstrual health of Butaleja’s women and girls.
The training provided by AFRIpads on managing periods was well-received by teachers and students alike. Catherine Hatono, a senior woman teacher at Butaleja Modern School, found the training to be informative and enlightening and plans to incorporate the new perspectives on menstrual health into her lessons for girls. Efulansi Nambubi, a senior woman teacher at Hisega Primary School, promised to hold a girls’ talk to inform all girls about how to use and maintain reusable pads. Mugabe Mary, a student trainer, emphasized the importance of parents providing pads for their children, as some students resort to exchanging sex for pads. Mary learned the value of being aware of her body and why menstruation occurs. She plans to educate other students on why they should track their periods so that they can be prepared when their periods arrive.
A male student from Butaleja Modern Mukama Eria thinks that teaching girls about menstruation gives them more self-confidence. Additionally, he opposes making fun of girls while they are menstruating since it lowers their self-esteem and affects their academic performance.
The trainers emphasized the importance of training as it builds their confidence. They will also use the knowledge acquired to dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation and reusable pads. They felt that it was inclusive and would lead to better outcomes with different people. The students of Hisega Primary School appreciated the girl talks by AFRIpads and noted that they would always refer to them. The Headteacher of Hisega Primary School, Mr. Kenneth Hayenje, was impressed by the outreach and saw that the girls were happy while swinging the bags and pads they received.
Let us invest in women and girls as well as their communities to accelerate progress, including granting them access to reusable products so they can menstruate with dignity, as suggested by the UN’s theme for International Women’s Day in 2024.
