A pupil at Habala Primary School washing hands at the sanitation facility built by Habitat for Humanity.

When Rose (not her real name) first started her menstrual cycle, she eagerly asked her mother for sanitary pads. But the response was one that reflected the harsh reality faced by many girls in rural communities.

“What you’re asking for is for the rich,” her mother replied.

Like many women, Rose’s mother couldn’t afford to buy disposable sanitary pads. Instead, she handed her daughter strips of old cloth, instructing her to use them as protection during her periods.

 “My mother cut pieces of old clothes and gave them to me. She told me that for a long time, she had used rags herself, managing to make it through school and marriage.” Rose recalls.

 But what worked for Rose’s mother decades ago didn’t work quite as well for her. The improvised pads were uncomfortable and unreliable. There were days when Rose’s school uniform would get stained with menses.

 “Our school didn’t have proper sanitation facilities. There was no place for us to change when we needed to, so I often stayed home during my periods,” She said adding “I would miss several days of school every month to avoid the embarrassment.”

 Another primary six girl narrated how she couldn’t handle the humiliation she felt when her periods unexpectedly started whileat school.

 “I had soiled my uniformand there was no water or sanitary pads at school. Even if we had them, changing would have been difficult since we shared the sanitation facility with boys and teachers. Fortunately, a teacher saw me and offered a ‘lesu’ to cover myself and I quickly rushed home to change,”She recalls.

 A ray of hope emerged when their schools were selected to benefit from a project dubbed“integrated community resilience” implemented by Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization.

Jessica Akumu, the senior woman teacher at Habala Primary School said that the organization trained both girls and teachers on how to make re-usable sanitary pads.

 “We were trained on how to make sanitary pads and to offer support to girls during their menstruation. We were given materials and still receive ongoing support to provide the girls with the needed supplies,” Akumu said.

In addition, two VIP girl user- friendly sanitation facilities were constructed at Habala and Buhunya primary schools in Buswale sub county in Namayingo district. A solar- powered water system was also installed in Bungecha village to improve the health and well-being of the community.

 Violet Mugenyi, a senior woman teacher at Buhunya Primary Schoolsaid the interventions will help girls remain in school and focus on their studies without any disruptions.

 “In this area sanitary pads are considered a luxury. A pack of disposable pads can cost more than a meal and this had forced many girls to resort to using unsafe materials like rags, leaves, or even newspapers,” Mugenyi said.

 She pointed out poverty, poor management of menstrual hygiene and lack of girl- friendly sanitation facilities in schools as factors contributing to school dropout among girls.

 Speaking during the handover, Jacinta Mary Nabwire, the headteacher at Buhunya primary expressed optimism about the new facility’s potential to enhance girls’ school attendance.

 “The facility is already making a difference. We initially had just 121 girls, but with the new sanitation facility, the number has grown to 233 this third term,” Nabwire noted. She said that girls now feel safer at school because they have sanitary pads and a private space to manage their periods.

 She said this will reduce the number of girls who stay home during their menstruation and ultimately improve their performance in school.

 “I now make my own padswhich are more affordable and sustainable. I no longer miss school out of fear of embarrassment because I feel secure during my periods,” Rose smilingly said. She added that she also taught her mother how to make pads.  

 Joshua Namuyondho, the program officer for Habitat for Humanity said the intervention were designed to meet the needs of menstruating girls, providing them with clean, safe spaces to manage their periods while at school.

The Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Sulaiman Walugembe Juuko commended Habitat for Humanity for tackling menstrual hygiene crisis by providing both education and infrastructure.

 He urged called for collective efforts to ensure that menstrual hygiene is prioritized in the district. In addition to equipping schools with proper sanitation facilities and menstrual products.

 “A girl shouldn’t miss school because of her periods. Proper sanitation facilities and menstrual products should be made affordable and accessible for all,” Walugembe said adding that this will help in breaking the cycle of shame and silence that surrounds menstruation in many communities.

According to the report by the Ministry of Education and Sports, over 1.2 girls aged 12-18 years face challenges related to menstrual hygiene management.

Compilled by Betty Angatai