Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day commemorated on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management at a global level. The day is meant to highlight the vital role that good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) plays in empowering women and adolescent girls worldwide to become all that they can be. This year’s theme was “Action and Investment in Menstrual Hygiene and Health“

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is a major health issue affecting women and girls of reproductive age worldwide. Fifty two per cent of the female population is of reproductive age at any given time. The transition into reproductive age for some girls is often met with fear and anxiety due to lack of knowledge about menstruation, lack of resources and ignorance about the changes that occur in their bodies.

“I used to use cloths that I could cut from my old T-shirts to keep the blood from staining my dresses, but they were not enough and blood would still stain my clothes,” said Nalumansi Gladys, a 16-year-old girl in Kayunga district. “Boys used to laugh at me and I eventually simply stayed home whenever my periods started.”

In Uganda today, most school-aged girls in marginalized communities face the largest barriers to menstrual hygiene management as many schools do not have the necessary facilities, supplies, knowledge and understanding to appropriately support girls during menstruation. This negatively impacts their education and ability to stay in school.

As BaNgaAfayo we conducted a health talk at our community center In Kayunga district were we sensitized the girls about menstrual hygiene and other health related issues.  The outreach brought together more than 25 adolescent girls and young women who were empowered with knowledge about menstrual hygiene and health. Our team led sessions and talked to the girls about the female reproductive system showing them how ovulation occurs, menstrual hygiene management, how to overcome menstrual cramps and also demonstrated the use of reusable sanitary towels to the girls. The girls in return shared their experiences and challenges that included;lack of menstrual hygiene knowledge, ridged cultural norms, lack of or inadequate water to clean and wash the body at school, lack of materials for managing menstrual hygiene, no private space and wash rooms and inappropriate facilities for disposal of materials.

We wrapped up the day by offering re-usable sanitary towels to each girl a material that lasts 12 months without them being able to spend on Sanitary products.