Education issues guidelines for menstrual hygiene management in Schools

All schools will be required to construct water tanks and changing rooms as part of the government efforts to ensure proper good menstrual hygiene management at schools.

The menstrual hygiene guidelines issues by Education Ministry also require schools to provide wrappers, sanitary towels as well as pain killer for girls who may need them during school hours. 

Assistant Commissioner Primary Education, Tony Mukasa- Lusambu says the guidelines will ensure that girls stay in school during the menstrual periods.

The guidelines coming just hour as Uganda joins the rest of the world to mark menstrual hygiene day also require schools to have train senior female and male teachers to support girls through the process of maturation, including menstruation.

Lusambu says district school inspectors will implement the directive as part of their routines schedule. Districts authorities have also been asked to ensure compliance.

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Menstrual Hygiene Day held on May 28th since 2013 helps to break the silence and build awareness about the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management plays in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential.

Many girls and women face challenges with managing their periods safely. In addition to persisting taboos, women and girls\' capacity to manage their periods is affected by a number of other factors, including limited access to affordable and hygienic sanitary materials and disposal options leaving many to manage their periods in ineffective, uncomfortable and unhygienic ways.

A pilot study by Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in seven districts of Uganda found  that  about  half of the girl pupils in the study reported missing one to three  days of primary school per month while in their menstrual period.

The report also indicate that this translates into a loss of 8 to 24 school days per year, or up to 11% school days missed because of menstrual periods.