Menstrual hygiene management brought to light…

Published on: 20/08/2014

By Marielle Snel (IRC) and Linda Lillian (NETWAS Uganda)

Poor menstrual hygiene management has been identified as one of the greatest obstacles to girls' school attendance, retention and performance. Several studies by the World Bank and other prominent Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) show that school going girls around the world miss school each month due to menstruation and its related challenges. Such challenges range from lack of access to proper sanitary facilities to lack of understanding of menstrual hygiene management (MHM).

The First National Menstrual Hygiene Management Conference which was held from August 14-15th 2014 in Kampala, Uganda brought together over 215 participants from various countries around Africa including: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Several colleagues from India plus colleagues from the Netherlands and Switzerland attended as well. 

We reflected on highlights from this important conference. In our personal view key highlights include:

• The open discussion and enthusiasm which is one that can only be cited as excellent, especially as this is one of the first conferences in Africa which has focused on the socially stigmatized issues around MHM;
• The students from the various schools around Uganda who provided their personal insights into the importance of MHM, not only for girl students but for all those whom are part of the school community;
• The 'MHM lab', a tent that WSSCC India set up in the exhibition space. This tent is used around India as a means for allowing women and men to understand MHM issues. The tent provides a safe environment in which people come in and talk openly about topic and get advice on MHM;
• Getting a better understanding on the standardized MHM facilities and technologies that should be available in schools; and
• Reflecting on the type of legislative that is currently in place in only a few countries around Africa and how MHM can be further embedded in WASH in schools legislation.

The proceedings contain information about the cases and research presented. The conference report will provide further information about these highlights and others. It is available in draft form. Draft recommendations have been formulated (available on the conference blog) and will be further sharpened so that actions can be taken.