By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey, GNA
Accra, June 2, GNA – The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Africa has called for stronger investments and policy reforms to tackle period poverty and menstrual stigma.
It said menstrual health is a critical human right and development issue, which must not be ignored.
Ms Susan Opok Tumusiime, the Executive Director of FAWE Uganda, made that call during a webinar, organised by FAWE Ghana and Uganda to commemorate Menstrual Health Day 2026, on the theme: “Together for a Period Friendly World.”
She said menstruation remained one of the leading causes of school absenteeism among adolescent girls in Uganda and many parts of Africa.
The Executive Director said presently, millions of girls and women across Africa still did not have access to affordable menstrual products, hygienic sanitation facilities amidst poor menstrual health education, and harmful cultural beliefs that continue to undermine the dignity and opportunities for girls.
“When girls cannot manage their periods safely and with dignity, they fall behind, drop out, or leave school altogether, this is not just a health issue; it is a gender equality and education issue,” she said.
Ms Tumusiime said through its Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) programme, FAWE Uganda had trained adolescents on menstrual health and hygiene and equipped girls with skills to produce reusable sanitary pads.
She said the initiative, implemented in schools in Adjumani and Buyende districts, had helped reduce stigma, improve menstrual hygiene management, and support girls to remain in school.
She said a recent launch of Menstrual Hygiene Management Guidelines by Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports was a significant step toward institutionalising menstrual health support within schools.
Ms Esenam Amuzu, a Sexual and Reproductive Health Advocate (Ghana), said period poverty remained a major challenge across the continent despite growing advocacy efforts.
She said studies in some Ghanaian communities showed that nearly 95 per cent of girls struggled to access menstrual products, while globally about 500 million people lacked access to menstrual products and adequate menstrual hygiene facilities.
“In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in every 10 girls misses school during menstruation. Stigma, silence, and poverty continue to turn a natural biological process into a barrier to education, dignity, and opportunity,” she said.
Ms Amuzu said although there was an increase advocacy, campaigns against taxes on menstrual products, the introduction of free sanitary pads for students, engagement of boys and men in menstrual health discussions, cultural misconceptions, menstrual stigma, and inadequate menstrual health education remained major obstacles to achieving menstrual equity.
“Menstruation is natural, but the shame, silence, and neglect surrounding it are manufactured,” she stated.
Mrs Amuzu noted that menstrual equity was directly linked to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and governments must ensure access to affordable menstrual products, clean sanitation facilities, comprehensive sexuality education and adequate budgetary support for menstrual health programmes.
Participants of the webinar advocated a renewed commitment by stakeholders to strengthening partnerships, menstrual health policy reforms, and promote period-friendly schools, workplaces and communities across Africa.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe