In many Ugandan schools, particularly in rural areas, inadequate sanitation facilities continue to fuel a silent crisis around menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and sexuality education.
Girls often miss classes, suffer stigma in silence, and face heightened risks of misinformation and exploitation all because their schools lack the facilities and support systems to meet their menstrual health needs.
Pavin’s struggle: From fear to empowerment
At just 13 years old, Pavin Masudio began menstruating while in primary school. With no parental guidance and no access to pads, she was forced to tear pieces of her own clothes to use as makeshift sanitary materials. The discomfort and shame left her missing nearly a week of school every month.
Her struggles did not stop there. Boys bullied her whenever she was on her period, instilling fear and embarrassment that eroded her self-confidence. Despite her dream of excelling academically, her grades slipped from first grade to second, and she came close to dropping out altogether.
“I cut one of the clothes my aunt bought. When she realized it was missing, I told her it got burnt,” Pavin recalled.
Turning point: The SHARE project
Relief came when Pavin joined the Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project, implemented by a consortium of partners in her school.
The project taught her how to make reusable sanitary pads, an innovation that changed her life. She could finally manage her period with dignity, regain concentration in class, and pursue her education without fear.
Reflecting on her journey, Pavin admitted she almost left school because of the challenges linked to menstruation. But the training restored her hope and gave her a new mission.
Giving back: helping girls in her village
Now 18, Pavin has taken it upon herself to help other girls in her community. She makes reusable pads for them and sensitizes those who, like her younger self, start menstruating without understanding what is happening to their bodies.
“I have met girls as young as 12 who started menstruating but didn’t know what was happening. I have already helped more than five girls in such situations,” she said proudly.
Through her actions, Pavin has become a role model and a lifeline for girls at risk of dropping out.
Teachers sound the alarm
At Lewa Secondary School, senior woman teacher Alice Chandia expressed concern about the continued challenges female learners face. She explained that in some refugee communities, menstruation is viewed as the beginning of womanhood, which often forces girls into early marriage.
“Before Forum for African Women Educationalists’ (FAWE’s) intervention, the dropout rate among girls was as high as 50 percent, while absenteeism stood at 70 percent because there was no support either at home or at school,” Chandia noted.
She stressed that access to pads is critical:
“If a girl doesn’t have pads to keep herself comfortable, it is difficult to sit in class and concentrate. That is why many of our learners dropped out.”
While training in reusable pad-making has reduced dropouts, disposal of used materials remains a challenge. The only incinerator available at the school was built by students and does not meet the required standards.
FAWE’s interventions bearing fruit
According to Nancy Asibazoyo, Project Officer at the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), their interventions have helped girls reclaim their right to education.
Through the school re-entry program, 489 girls who had dropped out due to adolescent-related challenges have been supported to return to school. FAWE has also trained 320 learners directly across eight schools to make reusable pads, with 1,280 indirect beneficiaries.
The organization is also supporting teenage mothers to continue their education.
“We have created safe and conducive environments within schools where they can breastfeed their children while attending classes,” Asibazoyo explained.
Ministry raises red flag
Dr. Gerald Amatre, consultant on life skills and health education with the Ministry of Education and Sports, warned that the persistent challenges are weighing heavily on the education system.
He revealed that 24% of girls drop out of school due to pregnancy, while 60% of learners engage in sexual activity as early as 15 years old. Many young girls are forced into early marriages, compounding the dropout crisis.
To curb the trend, the ministry is working with partners to strengthen awareness campaigns on menstrual health and expand access to pads and reproductive health education.
Statistics highlight the crisis
Findings from the Performance Monitoring and Accountability Group (PMA) in 2020 revealed that:
○65% of women use disposable pads
○42% rely on cloth
○5% use cotton wool
Reports by the Ministry of Education and UNESCO indicate that girls miss up to five school days every month due to menstruation.
The Auditor General’s report further revealed that 64% of female students surveyed had missed school or classes because of their periods.
Renewed hope for the future
The interventions by SHARE, FAWE, and the Ministry of Education are beginning to show results. Girls like Pavin are not only staying in school but also leading efforts to support others.
While challenges like stigma, inadequate facilities, and early marriage remain, the renewed hope brought by reusable pads is proving to be a game changer in Adjumani’s fight against period-driven dropouts.
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