Reach A Hand Uganda, a youth-led non-profit organization, has initiated a fundraising drive to provide 20,000 sanitary pads for girls in the Busoga region. This drive aims to address the significant challenges faced by young girls in managing menstruation, which often serves as an entry point for various sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) issues.
Humphrey Nabimanya, the founder of Reach A Hand Uganda, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the realities of menstrual health hygiene among young girls and women in Uganda. The fundraising campaign seeks to contribute to the creation of a supportive environment for young women regarding menstrual health and hygiene.
The initiative was unveiled during the official premiere of ‘Sabotage,’ a drama produced by Reach A Hand Uganda, which explores themes of sexual violence, unsafe abortion, and tradition to raise awareness around SRHR in Uganda. Approximately Shs5 million was raised during the premiere, and the campaign is set to continue until March 8th, Women’s Day.
Recent reports have highlighted the dire situation faced by girls in the Busoga sub-region, where some resort to using soil as makeshift sanitary pads due to limited access to safe menstrual hygiene products. World Vision International notes that insufficient Menstrual Hygiene Management in Ugandan schools contributes to a dropout rate of up to 10% of girls at the primary level.
Moreover, a Ministry of Education and Sports report revealed that about 23% of Ugandan girls aged 12-18 drop out of school when they begin menstruation, partly due to the stigma associated with inadequate menstrual hygiene practices.
By providing sanitary pads to girls in Busoga, Reach A Hand Uganda aims to alleviate these challenges and promote menstrual health awareness and education, ultimately empowering young girls to stay in school and reach their full potential.
