By Bazio Doreen

Many people agree that menstruation is indeed a normal phase of a girl’s life but few people acknowledge the challenges it comes with for the one who has to go through it every month because people interpret differently the onset of the cycle. In a traditional Adjumani community, a girl in her menstruation period was not allowed to live in the same home with her mother as she would be seen to be a woman herself now. However, with formal education and the ever-changing dynamics in culture, this opinion is slowly dying away.

Team Work.

According to Gloria Matapkwe, 17, a Primary Six pupil at Ajugopi Primary School, Menstrual Hygiene in her school and the community has improved as all children are now aware of it.

The children manage their menstruation by themselves without the help of the teachers and the elder children help the young ones to manage theirs properly.

Gloria also observes that girls no longer miss classes due to menstruation but now the boys and girls in her school now have the skills of making reusable sanitary pads and how to manage menstrual hygiene.

“Boys no longer laugh at a girl whose uniform gets stained with blood. But they rather do help the girl who is in trouble.” Gloria says.

Gloria also reveals that from the trainings provided by EMESCO children in her school have now learnt skills such as sewing and it has become a source of income and livelihood.

“The money which I would use to buy disposable pads now is used to buy something. And also I can make the pads for myself and I sell some to other people to get money. Before EMESCO came in, girls were spending much of their money to buy sanitary pads monthly which sometimes they cannot afford to buy thus missing school” Gloria describes.

Involvement of boys.

On the other hand, Iceta Norbert, 15, a Primary Six pupil at Ajugopi Primary School, the increasing rate of school dropout was due to embarrassment by boys which made the girls shy and decide not to come to school.

He rates the menstrual hygiene management at his school at 90% owing it to the trainings by EMESCO on menstrual hygiene management and how to make reusable sanitary pads.

“As a boy, I have learned the skill of making reusable sanitary pads for my sisters at home. I no longer laugh at the girls whose clothes get spoiled with blood but I rather help them. I can also make the re-usable sanitary pad and sell them to any man.” Iceta Norbert said.

Before the coming of EMESCO, Iceta Norbert reveals that he did not know menstruation happens to every girl. He used to tease the girls who underwent their menstruation because he thought they were ready for marriage.

Involvement of teachers.

Masudio Rosemary, a teacher, at Ajugopi Primary School, says EMESCO has contributed a lot to menstrual hygiene at the school by teaching them how to make emergency re-usable sanitary pads in addition to providing disposable sanitary pads and soap for girls in the school.

“Before EMESCO, girls were facing difficulties in purchasing sanitary pads. Parents were unable to provide them with sanitary pads which made them miss classes because of periods and some dropped out due to lack of sanitary pads as they feared to be laughed at by the boys at school when their clothes got spoiled with blood.” Masudio Rosemary explains.

Masudio also observes that before the coming of EMESCO, some girls were asking for money from their boyfriends to purchase the sanitary pads. They did not know how to make reusable sanitary pads. But now both boys and girls know the good materials to make the sanitary pads and they make the pads by themselves.

“The children act as role models. They even train the parents at home on how to make the reusable sanitary pads.” Masudio Rosemary explains.

END.

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