DEBATES BRIDGING THE GAP IN MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT AWARENESS AMONG THE YOUTH

With eager voices marked with both shyness and excitement, students from various schools in Mityana and Kassanda Districts participated in debates on menstrual hygiene management (MHM). The schools included Bujubi Senior Secondary School, St. Kizito Secondary School, and Mpanga Memorial Primary School. The Youth Truck under Action 4 Health Uganda organized the debates to disseminate information on menstrual health management to youth aged between 10 to 30 years.

Menstrual hygiene refers to the practices and measures that are taken to keep the body clean and healthy during menstruation. These include using sanitary products such as pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. It also involves washing the body regularly and maintaining good personal hygiene. It is also wise to ensure proper disposal of used sanitary products. Promoting awareness and educating people are crucial in helping to reduce stigma and increase access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities.

The school debates involved both male and female students who readily shared their opinions on various motions related to menstrual hygiene management.

 “We thank the Youth Truck for the Menstrual Health Hygiene talks. It has helped our girls to stay in school. The number of girls dropping out of school due to lack of menstrual hygiene information has reduced.” said Ms. Namuyaba Edith, a teacher at Mpanga Memorial Primary School in Kassanda District.

The students shared their opinions during the debates after which trophies and scholastic materials were awarded to the best debaters by the Youth Truck team.

“The debate has increased our knowledge of menstrual hygiene. I am thankful to the Youth Truck for this opportunity where I have also emerged as the best debater.” Remarked a Senior Three female student of Bujubi Senior Secondary School, Mityana District.

Students of St. Kizito Secondary School in Mityana District wrote down suggestions to the government of Uganda on what it should do to improve menstrual hygiene in schools. These include supplying sanitary items to girls to improve menstrual hygiene, providing skilled labor to be deployed in schools to train students in making reusable pads and instruments to make them, provide more funds to NGOs to further the sensitization work on MHM.

Menstruation is a significant factor that affects the attendance of school-going girls. Action 4 Health Uganda is striving to raise awareness of menstrual hygiene management to ensure that girls do not miss school and have equal opportunities to achieve academic success.