MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT
Menstruation is a natural fact of life and a monthly occurrence for the 1.8 billion girls
The onset of menstruation means a new phase – and new vulnerabilities – in the lives of adolescents. Yet, many adolescent girls face stigma, harassment and social exclusion during menstruation.
Our Response
When children, especially girls, cannot access private and decent sanitation facilities in their schools and learning environments, the right to education is threatened. Our commitment is to building programmes that increase confidence, knowledge, and skills – and improve access to materials and facilities – for adolescent girls in schools. When children, especially girls, cannot access private and decent sanitation facilities in their schools and learning environments, the right to education is threatened.
Our plan + SDG 6
Bringing access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all paying special attention to the needs of women and girls
We are currently implementing our menstrual hygiene management project in primary schools found in the rural areas of Uganda. While the primary beneficiaries are the girls that have reached menarche and those within the menarche age, the program has grown to encompass boys, teachers and parents, creating awareness amongst them to support the girls.
This is how we do it
We are creating a space and culture where no girl has to be discriminated on just because she is experiencing her period.
dialogues with parents and teachers and construction of MHM facilitative infrastructure like the MHM dedicated rooms and female friendly latrine facilities. The Rain Water Harvesting facilities constructed have also provided girls with water needed to wash themselves without having to walk long distances to look for water out of school. All this has been done in a bid to increase access to safe, private and comfortable spaces for the girls to manage their menstruation.
SCHOOL SELECTION
This is done in collaboration with the district Local Government (DLGs). This is followed by assessment to check its eligibility for the WASH program.
Baseline survey
An MHM baseline survey is carried out. This consists of focus group discussions and interviews with the girls
Implementation
A rain water harvesting tank, a dedicated MHM room and a female friendly latrine facilities are gradually introduced to the school.
MONITORING
Monitoring is carried out to ensure the sustainability of the project.
We have uplifted the face of not only MHM, but the overall Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) of the schools in with which we work.
The stories of the girls transforming from use of unhygienic pieces of cloth and some using knickers to catch blood, to being able to make their own reusable pads are priceless. This and all the other supportive components have enabled the girls to confidently attend school during their periods and thus improved their performance and the retention rate of the girls to finish their primary school studies.
