Vision Group donates sanitary pads to Mwizi school

PIC: Pupils of Akashabo Primary School with Vision Group's Adella Mbabazi after receiving reusable sanitary pads. (Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

SOCIAL CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

MBARARA - Vision Group's Mbarara based Orumuri, TV west and Radio West on Thursday wrapped up its month-long campaign dubbed, pads for education, with giving sanitary pads to over 150 girls of Akashabo Primary School in Mwizi sub county-Rwampara.

The campaign, which involved school heads and members of the community saw parents and teachers receive training on how to help girls cope during their menstrual cycle.

Vision Group's initiative was motivated by the need to keep Mwizi girls in school by providing menstrual hygiene solutions.

Vicent Byarugaba, the headteacher of Akashabo Primary School disclosed that because of lack of sanitary towels among grils, the school has registered high absenteeism, dropout rates and poor performance by girls.

Pupils of Akashabo Primary School with Vision-Group's Alex Mugarura and Adella Mbabazi after receiving sanitary-pads. (Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

"At times we feel sad missing class because of bleeding, our parents cannot afford buying pads for us and we spend almost like five days out of school, we call on the Government and other organisations to intervene," Amumpire Suzan, a pupil said.

Alex Mugarura, Vision Group's Mbarara bureau marketing manager, said the drive was intended to showcase challenges faced by girl children, especially in primary school when they are in their menstrual periods.

"We know many girls face challenges when they are in their menstrual cycle and this has derailed their studies. So, as Vision Group, we came in to address some of these challenges by donating long-lasting pads to them," Mugarura said.

Tumuhimbise Christine, a senior woman teacher and William John Kamunyu, the board chairman of Akashabo Primary School, appealed to the education ministry and non-governmental organisations to invest in projects that aimed at saving the future of a young girl.

"We thank Vision Group for this support. We urge the other entities to join Vision Group in the campaign to save our girls," Tumuhimbise added.

Other challenges listed in Mwizi include early marriages, domestic violence and poverty.