In a recent statement, Janet Kataha Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports in Uganda, has expressed reservations regarding the promotion and distribution of reusable sanitary pads to schoolgirls in the country. While she recognizes the importance of ensuring access to menstrual hygiene products for girls, she also raised concerns about the idea of reusable pads, which she finds degrading and potentially posing health risks.
During the National Youth Convention, Janet Museveni mentioned that a group had approached her with the concept of promoting reusable sanitary pads to keep girls in school. However, she declined to support such a campaign. She particularly took issue with the name “Africa Pad,” which seemed to refer to AfriPad, the largest certified producer of reusable pads in Uganda. She questioned the need for African girls to resort to reused sanitary pads in the modern era.
Hope Nankunda, the Executive Director of Health Promotions and Rights Watch Uganda, acknowledges the importance of girls menstruating with dignity and agrees with the First Lady’s emphasis on providing girls with the best means to manage their periods, such as disposable sanitary towels. However, Nankunda points out that in impoverished rural areas, even affording a meal can be a struggle, making sanitary pads a luxury item for many families. In such situations, a reusable pad can be a practical and valuable resource.
Janet Museveni maintains that providing sanitary pads should primarily be the responsibility of parents, but she believes the government should support families in developing sustainable livelihoods. She has proposed establishing a factory dedicated to manufacturing sanitary pads for free distribution to all schoolgirls, offering a self-sustaining solution to menstrual hygiene challenges.
The issue of providing sanitary pads to girls has been a pressing concern in Uganda for over a decade. Research has shown a link between girls’ school dropout rates and menstrual hygiene challenges. Many girls skip school due to the fear of embarrassment and discomfort during menstruation.
In 2012, a study by the International Rescue Centre revealed that one in ten menstruating girls misses school for four days every month. Activists have been advocating for the government to provide free sanitary towels to all girls, similar to the distribution of free condoms to promote safe sex.
During the 2016 presidential campaigns, President Yoweri Museveni promised to provide free sanitary pads to students, but this promise has not materialized to date.
