Management of menstruation can present substantial challenges to girls in low- income settings. Many girls in primary schools in rural areas skip school when their monthly menstrual cycle is in full swing. They are subjected to embarrassment and fear of teasing related to menstruation. This, together with menstrual pain and lack of effective materials for menstrual hygiene management, leads to school absenteeism, thus impeding their academic performance. Social studies in schools show that poverty and menstruation as the key factors associated with school attendance among girls
Salama Bint Hamdan Bin Mohamed Al Nahyan Charitable & Humanitarian Foundation promotes woman & girl engagement by distributing sanitary pads to girls in primary and secondary schools as a menstrual hygiene intervention to reduce school absenteeism. The girl child needs to be empowered to aim high in their studies and therefore SBHBMNCHF is stepping up resource mobilization to be able to reach more schools and more girls.
In recently month September 2023, SBHBMNCHF distributed sanitary pads to girls in a few schools in Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast as a menstrual hygiene intervention to reduce school absenteeism. SBHBMNCHF staffs Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast presented 2×40 containers packets of pads to all Schools girls in Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast primary schools.
Summary
The She Needs A Pad Project will provide Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) education and empowerment to one million girls and women in rural underserved communities in Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast. It will provide menstrual materials and supplies and teach the production of reusable pads. Small peer discussion groups would be organized to ensure adequate and accurate information is discussed on menstruation and related matters.
Challenges
About one in 10 girls miss school due to period poverty. Some are exposed to health issues such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) from using materials like old clothes, leaves, etc. Many women are excluded from participating in daily activities while menstruating. Deeply rooted attitudes and myths associate menstruation with disgust and uncleanliness. Information available on menstruation are inadequate/inaccurate. This Project will affect 500 girls and women in rural communities in Africa.
Solution
This urgent appeal will provide sanitary pads and other menstrual materials to one million young girls and women in Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast. It will, through small discussion groups, foster open, healthy discussions on menstruation and related matters, thus increasing knowledge and ensuring accurate information. There will be workshops to train these women and girls on how to make reusable pads for themselves and also for sale. Awareness will be raised, and proper ways to manage health will be promoted, thus, combating period poverty.
Long-Term Impact
This Project will empower one million girls and women in Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast, helping them become productive and self-reliant. It will reduce the number of girls that miss school while on their period due to period poverty. It will also reduce the burden on healthcare services due to complications like urinary tract infections, etc. encouraging optimal health and well-being. This Project will also encourage participation of girls and women in daily social and cultural activities, reducing gender disparity.
Donate now to support School Girls and Vulnerable Women to provide them with Sanitary Pads in West Africa
