Butaleja District was abuzz with activity as various partners, local leaders, and Ministry of Education and Sports representatives joined the community to commemorate the International Day of Menstrual Hygiene on 28th May 2024 under the theme Together for a Period Friendly World.
The Youth Truck spearheaded the mobilization drive pre-event, traversing various communities of Butaleja District to create awareness about Menstrual hygiene and the upcoming event to celebrate this important issue. Curious minds were drawn to the blaring music of the truck and were satiated with educative information on menstrual hygiene.
As the truck wound down dirt roads beset by lush rice fields, information was disseminated via its public address system. Occasional stopovers were made to address the gathering crowds and at a stopover in Nakasero, an area lovingly named after the main economic activity there, basket weaving, the Youth Truck team interacted with the young and old people there to get their views and experiences with menstruation. Being a rural and remote area, certain basic items of daily living may be hard to come by such as sanitary products to aid the young girls and women during their menstruation. This lack of sanitary products is what hinders most girls from attending school for fear of being made a laughingstock, especially by their male peers in case their outfits get stained.
“I fail to go to school because I have only one pad to use. There are no changing rooms at school either. No parental support during my periods yet I need to change four to five times a day.” shared 17-year-old Nancy (not her real name), a Primary Seven pupil at Nakwasi Primary School, Butaleja District.
Her peer, 19-year-old Fiona (not her real name), a Senior One student at Namungoona Parents Secondary School in Wakiso District, also shared her menstruation ordeal. “I use four pads a day yet what I am given is not enough for those times of changing.”
The issue of the availability of sanitary products for girls like Fiona and Nancy is a crucial point to note in the drive to ensure menstrual hygiene. Women like 32-year-old Irene Nyomera are a few who are putting a building block to this drive, making reusable pads that she sells at a friendly fee. More so, her tailoring station is right opposite Leresi Primary School, a positioning that benefits both the school-going children and her income.
During the Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations, which kicked off with a parade of school-going children from various schools in Butaleja District, the Assistant Commissioner of Basic Education, Elizabeth Mbatudde, urged parents not to let their children drop out of school due to menstruation. She also emphasized the need for proper nutrition during menstruation as the body requires to replace the lost blood.
As the day’s events unfolded, peer sessions were conducted by peer educators and learning sessions were held by an SRHR Officer from A4HU. Here, they talked further about proper menstrual hygiene to both boys and girls from the different schools that were in attendance.
At the exhibition event, A4HU showcased the unique and affordable reusable sanitary pads made out of papyrus leaves by the youth from Malangala Youth Empowerment Centre in Mityana District. The pads, known as MAKAPADS were a showstopper as several attendees of the event took interest in the product, purchasing several in support of the day’s theme.
The representative of the LC5 Butaleja District, Ms. Aidah Mugoya, who is the Secretary of Gender, Butaleja District also had points to make at the event. “Many girls have dropped out of school due to lack of information concerning menstruation. Bringing this event to Butaleja District changes the narrative as it changes the negative mindsets around menstruation.” She also urged parents to support their female children, especially during menstruation. “Implementing partners can come in but parents must be the first to support the girl child, for then you will have a successful future without regrets,” she emphasized.
On the issue of proper menstrual hygiene facilities, Ms. Mugoya added, “We appreciate the work done by the donors and the Implementing partners, but we ask that they also add shelters in the form of bathing and changing rooms for girls to use during menstruation.”
The RDC Butaleja District, Namagogwe Hajira made some commitments on behalf of the Government of Uganda. “I commit on behalf of the government and Ministry of Education and Sports to take measures to ensure that period-friendly schools are established. We pledge to integrate menstrual hygiene education into the school curriculum. Both boys and girls must understand the context of menstrual hygiene.”
“I commit on behalf of the government and Ministry of Education and Sports to take measures to ensure that period-friendly schools are established. We pledge to integrate menstrual hygiene education into the school curriculum. Both boys and girls must understand the context of menstrual hygiene.”
RDC Butaleja District, Namagogwe Hajira
