Poor Menstrual Hygiene Hindering Refugee Girls’ Education in Lamwo, District leaders say

Lamwo, Uganda: Poor menstrual hygiene management is forcing many refugee girls to drop out of school in Paluda Refugee Settlement Camp, Palabek Sub-County, Lamwo District, reproductive health stakeholders have warned.

Speaking during a meeting organized by the Refugee Law Project in partnership with Volunteer Action Network on Friday, April 25, 2025, leaders and education officials emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to address menstrual hygiene challenges facing school-going girls.

Jackson Langoya, Health Information Assistant at Palabek Ogili Health Centre III, speaking on behalf of the facility’s in-charge, said poverty and poor parental attention to menstrual needs continue to worsen the situation.

“Most refugee homes prioritize basic needs like food and cannot afford buying pads at Shs 3,000 for their daughters,” Langoya said. He stressed that parents need to be sensitized to understand the importance of supporting their daughters’ education, including providing menstrual hygiene materials.

Langoya further noted that boys’ behavior in schools, where they sometimes mock girls during menstruation, also discourages many girls from continuing with their education. “Involving boys in menstrual hygiene awareness creation is critical to reduce stigma,” he added, warning that poor hygiene management was contributing to the rise of teenage pregnancies among refugee girls.

At Palabek Secondary School, Deputy Senior Woman Teacher Filder Angeyo testified that the school regularly encounters girls reporting without the necessary menstrual hygiene materials.

“Girls are dropping out because they fear boys who laugh at them. This calls for a wide sensitization on menstrual health and support mechanisms,” Angeyo said, urging parents, guardians, and community leaders to spearhead awareness campaigns to protect the dignity and education of girls.

Local government leaders also weighed in on the subject matter, with Isabella Lamunu, the Vice Chairperson LC3 of Palabek Sub-County, calling on the government to extend affirmative action programs to refugee communities.

“Because the settlement is mostly populated by women and children, empowering refugees through income-generating activities like backyard farming and small businesses would help parents meet family needs, including purchasing menstrual products,” Lamunu said.

Partner Intervention

Volunteer Action Network Executive Director Musa Bukenya announced a major intervention to tackle the problem. He revealed that the organization had initiated a “social enterprise” for the local production and distribution of sanitary pads to both refugee and host communities.

“We intend to distribute 250,000 packs of sanitary pads per month to 250,000 girls and women over a three-year period,” Mr Bukenya said.

He added that their previous efforts, which saw the distribution of over 5.9 million sanitary pads across 24 schools in Omoro, Nwoya, Amuru, and Gulu districts, had significantly boosted girl-child education retention rates.