How Malaika Reusable Pads is helping fight teenage pregnancies in Sebei

Sebei Region, (UG):- As teenage pregnancies and early marriages continue to threaten the education of adolescent girls in Kween and Bukwo districts due to a lack of access to safe and affordable menstrual hygiene products, Malaika Reusable Pads, in collaboration with Action Aid Uganda and UNFPA, has launched an initiative aimed at tackling this issue and keeping girls in school.

The initiative, according to Malaika Pads, aims to restore girls’ dignity, empower them to stay in school, and reduce their vulnerability to early marriages.

The project, which has so far benefited Kapkwere Primary School, Chemwania Primary School, and Chebinyiny Primary School, has seen over 200 girls receive reusable sanitary pads to ensure they do not miss school due to menstrual-related challenges.

Alongside the distribution, the girls also received essential training on menstrual health and hygiene management, equipping them with knowledge on how to navigate puberty with confidence.

According to Ms. Dorothy Awori, Executive Director Malaika Reusable Pads, the program has engaged various community leaders including parents, teachers, Village Health Teams, School Management Committees, and religious leaders—to foster sustainability.

“It is through these leaders that the fight against early marriage and teenage pregnancy will be sustained in the community,” she noted.

Additionally, the organization also introduced the Red Box initiative in the schools, a program that ensures girls have access to emergency sanitary pads when caught off-guard by their periods. This intervention is expected to significantly reduce absenteeism caused by lack of menstrual products.

“The Red Box initiative was introduced in these schools to provide emergency sanitary pads for girls caught off-guard by their periods, ensuring they do not have to skip class or return home unexpectedly,” the organization says in a statement.

Ms. Chebet Rose, the Senior Woman Teacher at Kapkwere Primary School, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating, “Many of our girls have been missing school because of lack of pads. With this initiative, we hope to see increased school attendance and fewer cases of early marriages.”

Mrs. Cherop Sylvia, a parent from Chebinyiny Primary School in Bukwo, acknowledged that many parents are not actively engaged in their children’s education. She emphasized that the newly launched community campaign aims to mobilize parents to fight against early marriages and keep children in school.

The Reusable Pads initiative marks a crucial step by Malaika toward restoring dignity to young girls, ensuring they receive the education they deserve without the limitations posed by menstrual challenges.