Include your daughters' menstrual materials in family budget during lockdown

By Ackissah Baluti

From the time I started my periods at the age of 13 years until I became confident enough to talk about menstruation (at 19 years), I always felt shy to ask my parents for sanitary towels.

When I didn't have money, I would rather rip my old cotton clothes, use toilet paper, or ask my friend if she had extra from her previous month. I did this not because my parents couldn't afford to buy them for me, but because I believed it was shameful to ask my parents for period materials.

The community used to say that it's not good for my parents and family members to know that I am having my periods because it brings bad luck. That is my story which I believe many girls and young women can relate with.

As most of the world is worried about the economy, their mental health, and livelihoods among other things, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many girls are worried about their periods and where they will get sanitary towels from.

Like everybody else is, girls and young women too are in lockdown with the only family. For those girls, who like me cannot ask their parents for sanitary towels, it is a nightmare. Some girls are starting their first period (Menarche) during lockdown Many, who would rather tell their friends at school, or in the neighborhood, are unable to, because their movements are restricted for fear of COVID-19.

During this lockdown, anyone considering themselves as responsible parents or guardians should consider including menstrual materials in the family shopping budgets; and give them to their girls even if they don't ask for them. This might be an open way for the girls who are shy to get the courage to be open about menstruation issues to their Family members.

Menstruation is a natural, normal, biological process experience for girls and women. However, there is still a lack of adequate information on menstruation which brings fear and shame, putting their health and education at risk.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) which is the largest voluntary movement for girls in the world gives girls space to discuss, help and support each other on menstruation issues that they face. In 2019, WAGGGS and WASH United (the founder of the May 28 international Menstrual Hygiene Day which is celebrated across the world) launched a partnership to bring Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) education closer to girls around the world to ensure that periods do not hold them back and they live healthy, fulfilling independent lives.

These training are delivered through the YESS Girls Movement program (an international Exchange program) Red Pride core initiative.



L-R: Blink (from Burundi), Duwal (from Nepal), Rova (from Madagascar), and Fauster (from Tanzania) in an online Red Pride #MHM campaign last month (April 2020). The four are Girl Guides currently volunteering at Uganda Girl Guides Association as international exchange participants as part of WAGGGS' YESS Girls Movement Programme.

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The YESS Girls in Uganda have been visiting different schools, communities, centers, and churches providing this MHM education to girls and women. Although the world is in lockdown, the YESS Girls Movement here in Uganda and in other countries did not stop bringing awareness on menstruation through online campaigns.

To mark the Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations on the 28^th May, WAGGGS in collaboration with UNICEF will be running a global U-Report poll focusing on Menstruation through the 45 YESS Girls Movement 2020 participants in 14 African and Asia Pacific countries including Uganda. U-Report is a social messaging tool and data collection system developed by UNICEF to improve engagement, inform leaders, and foster positive change in specific areas...

The writer is a YESS Girls movement programme assistant for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts; and an upcoming menstrual hygiene education activist.