Lack of Sanitary pads leading to high school dropout in Busoga – Local NGO

By Nathan Ngobi

Failure to access sanitary pads by most school going girl’s results to increased number of school dropout in Busoga.

This was disclosed by Mariam Nabirye Mwesigwa the CEO Mwesigwa Foundation-Luuka while giving out free sanitary pads to girls and vulnerable mothers at Budhabangula Church of Uganda (COU) in Luuka district on Friday.

She said that most girls have dropped out of   school due to failure to get sanitary pads which is a necessity.

She added that 7 out of 10 girls miss classes between 10 to 16 days in a term something that affects their performance and morale to stay in school deteriorates leading to drop out of school, that may result into early marriages and un-wanted pregnancies.

“Most girls end into early marriages due to poor performances in classes because they miss a number of lessons where they are sometimes subjected to beating by teachers that would deter a girl child from continuing with Education” Mwesigwa noted.

Mwesigwa observed that many females in rural areas resort to using old mattress materials and all sorts of non-recommended materials as pads in a bid to regulate the flow of blood which affects their internal organs after bacterial infection.

She  disclosed that  as a growing girl from a humble background, she faced the same challenges that girls and women go through, where she noted that stability for a girl in class without sanitary can  be realized due the stigma, bullying and other side effects like abdominal pain, headache among others.

According to research done by Mwesigwa Foundation, many girls in Luuka district and Busoga sub region at large have no access to private rooms and clean water for use while going through menstruation.

“We have given out a number of free sanitary pads and these include disposables and reusable sanitary pads both plastic and clothed pieces and this has given hope to our people, about 8,000 females have benefited out of this project in a short time,” Mwesigwa said.

Abraham Tukomewo , the Managing Director for Mwesigwa Foundation noted that many families have experienced gender based violence as a result of using the non-recommended  materials  in form of sanitary pads.

“Most men do not provide sanitary pads to their children and wives and  whenever they go into menstruation, ladies are  forced to cut mattress pieces to pamper themselves something that annoy men hence gender based violence”   Tukomewo said

He argued Government and other civil society organizations to come up with a planned solution   on challenges faced by the poor mothers and girls who cannot manage to buy a packet of the recommended sanitary pads.

Musagalya Gilbert who doubles as the speaker for Busalamu Town Council and the Board chair

Mwesigwa Foundation said the program has changed lives of many Ugandan mothers and young girls who have lived for a long time without proper menstrual care and lectures.

Musagalya added that most politicians have kept a deaf ear when it comes menstrual health care but they have started fighting Mwesigwa for the initiative which has given hope to mothers especially the girl child who has been a neglect.

Isifu Mutebe Kabambwe, a resident of Inhuula in Ikumbya Sub County and youth leader in the area said many girls are being used by greedy men in exchange for sanitary pads which results into early pregnancies and early marriages. He added this program if supported by government shall keep most girls in school than before.

Kamuli Esther, a resident of Nakabaale village in Irongo sub county noted instead of politicians fighting

Mwesigwa Mariam Nabirye, they should instead support the program in order to have a changed community.

Medie Nagayi the youth secretary in the chiefdom of Obwatabingwa BWA Luuka asked parents especially the fathers to take a lead in knowing the health of their daughters and wives to improve on their menstrual health care.

Mukembo Bakali, a senior  teacher at Butimbwa primary school said parents could be at the Central point of bailing out their daughters with sanitary pads but the level of poverty is also high and many Cannot afford a packet of UGx 3000.

Michelle Matama the Miss Tourism Luuka district asked government to support such organizations that touching lives of people which can also carryout trainings to beneficiaries on how to hand-sow these reusable sanitary pads. This minimizes the monthly costs in general for every body and environmentally hygienic.