Kamuli, Uganda: Dozens of schoolchildren and adolescent girls in Kamuli District have received scholastic materials and sanitary pads from Becky’s Child Foundation in an initiative aimed at promoting school retention, menstrual hygiene management, and the well-being of vulnerable learners.
The support was delivered during a June 3rd Martyrs Day outreach programme at Brain Savers Primary School, where foundation officials used the occasion to encourage children to stay in school and embrace good personal and community hygiene practices.
Speaking during the event, Becky’s Child Foundation Chief Executive Officer Ms Rebecca Alitwala Mubeezi called on parents, guardians, and communities to promote open conversations around children’s sexual and reproductive health rights, particularly menstrual hygiene management.
“Menstruation, which is a biological process, should not be a barrier to any girl. We must always think about the less privileged children whose future lies in education but cannot afford basic school requirements such as scholastic materials. We must also think about girls who are forced to miss school or completely drop out because of the inconvenience, embarrassment, and challenges associated with menstruation,” Mubeezi said.
She urged stakeholders to support girls in managing their menstrual cycles safely and with dignity, saying access to sanitary products and accurate information remains critical to keeping girls in school.
“Let us help them live safe and dignified lives and prepare them to have healthy, comfortable and hygienic menstrual cycles,” she added.
Foundation Board Member Ms Monica Inhesiko and Programmes Manager Ms Diana Mugabi led menstrual hygiene management discussions with learners, emphasizing the need to create safe environments for adolescent girls both at school and within communities.
The pair highlighted challenges faced by many girls, including period poverty, cultural stigma, early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and school dropouts, noting that these factors continue to limit educational opportunities for many young people.
“We need to give children and adolescents honest, age-appropriate and gender-responsive information so that they grow up self-aware and guided instead of dismissing them as a lost or unruly generation,” Mugabi said.
She further praised the resilience of teenage mothers and vulnerable girls striving to rebuild their lives through education despite numerous obstacles.
“Many girls and young mothers continue to fight for second chances. Equal rights, fair opportunities and affirmative action remain distant dreams for some of them, yet they continue to persevere and deserve support,” Mugabi noted.
Brain Savers Primary School Senior Woman Teacher Ms Hilda Nambi expressed concern over increasing misinformation among young people and the limited guidance many children receive from parents regarding sexuality and personal development.
She observed that many parents are often too busy to adequately counsel their children, leaving them vulnerable to making uninformed decisions.
Nambi also called on government to improve sanitation facilities in schools by incorporating safe changing rooms, washrooms, and incinerators for menstrual waste management.
“Government should consider providing free sanitary pads to school-going girls through school grants because many learners miss classes or drop out due to challenges associated with menstruation,” she said.
The initiative forms part of Becky’s Child Foundation’s broader efforts to improve educational opportunities, promote menstrual health awareness, and support vulnerable children and adolescents in communities across Uganda.
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