Caritas Uganda tips Danish, Ugandan learners on menstrual hygiene

In a bid to build confidence, develop understanding, and foster healthy habits, Caritas Uganda has taken Ugandan and Danish learners through tips on how to ensure menstrual hygiene.

During a workshop held in Kampala, Danish students and learners from St. James Biina Primary School including both girls and boys were also taken through the soap making process but also each planted a tree.

According to Cynthia Muhiirwa Tumwijukye, the legal officer for Caritas Uganda who also doubles as the Globus coordinator in Uganda, they this time round decided to tackle menstrual hygiene since it is one of the key issues in the country.

“One of the issues which has been raised in the country is the lack of access to menstrual hygiene materials. There was recently a story of a learner who used soil to make a pad out of it . With this activity, we want to help learners make eco-friendly pads that they can use for over five times a year before disposing them of. A pack goes for shs25, 000 a year and we think everyone can afford it,” Tumwijukye said.

She said they focused mostly on reusable pads since these are not expensive but can also be used multiple times , making them affordable.

“The activity included a team from Denmark to Uganda who are on a learning visit and teaching them about the taboos and myths in Africa about menstrual hygiene and what is the alternative apart from using pads sold in supermarkets. We are giving them an African perspective that even in Denmark, there are destitutes who cannot afford pads and the skills they have acquired here can be used when they go back to their country.”

Climate

Tumwijukye said the training also had a component of climate change to remind the learners that when pads are disposed of, they don’t rot, posing a danger to environment.

“You might find girls disposing of the pads in a funny way and some of them don’t allow them to burn due to misconceptions. Caritas Uganda has a feeling that if we have advocacy about menstrual hygiene, we can see a change.”

“We want to lobby government to allow schools use capitation grants to purchase reusable pads for use. It is assumed that out of 10 girls, seven miss school when they receive their periods. In some areas, when girls receive their menstruation, some parents thinks they are ready for marriage which is wrong. We want to change these perceptions.”

Claire Atukunda, a Primary seven pupil at St. James Biina Primary School described the training as enriching to her and fellow learners.

“I have learnt that girls need to be confident and stay in school during periods since menstruation is a normal thing.  The training on soap making gave us skills that even if we don’t have soap at home, we can make it ourselves at home to promote hygiene,” Atukunda said.

Raymond Olal, another pupil at the same school said as boys, they are now empowered to help their sisters and female colleagues during menstruation time.

“As boys we should help our dear sisters and friends to manage their periods. When in need, we should always be available for them.”

Jacob Neu from Denmark described the training as enriching, noting that lessons picked would be applied back home.

“It has been a good experience for me as I didn’t know much about how menstruation affect the girls in Uganda and how many of them miss school while in their periods. This was quite new to me since it different in Denmark.  It was interesting to learn about reusable pads and how they can be used for sustainability of the  environment,”Neu said.

During the same event, Caritas Uganda distributed three waste bins for waste management with Laudato Si, the Pope’s messages on environmental conservation.

They also distributed two waste bins for disposal of used sanitary pads .