Breaking the Cycle: Menstrual hygiene Challenges facing refugee girls in Uganda

By Akello Gladys Evarine, NCF – Programs Officer – Protection & GBV

Email: gladys.akello@nwoyacharity.org

In the heart of Uganda’s refugee settlements, thousands of adolescent girls wake up each day not only grappling with the trauma of displacement but also battling a silent, persistent challenge—menstrual hygiene management (MHM). For many refugee girls, something as natural as menstruation has become a barrier to education, dignity, and opportunity.

Uganda is home to over 1.5 million refugees, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. Approximately 60% of this population are children, and more than half are girls and young women. In settlements like Bidibidi, Palabek, Rhino Camp, and Kiryandongo, menstruation remains a monthly crisis that often results in missed school days or permanent dropout.

The stark reality: when periods push girls out of school

According to a 2021 UNHCR and Save the Children report, at least 1 in 10 refugee girls drop out of school due to MHM-related challenges. In some settlements, as many as 40% of school-going adolescent girls miss 3–5 days of school each month during their periods. This absenteeism adds up—leading to poor performance, repetition, shame, and eventually withdrawal from school altogether.

For out-of-school refugee girls, the situation is worse. Without proper MHM education or access to sanitary materials, they face health risks, early pregnancy, and isolation, reinforcing cycles of poverty and gender inequality.

Why refugee girls are at risk;

Several intersecting factors exacerbate MHM challenges for refugee girls:

1. Lack of access to sanitary products: Most families in settlements cannot afford disposable sanitary pads. Reusable options are often unavailable or impractical due to poor washing and drying conditions.
2. Inadequate WASH facilities Many schools and community toilets lack clean, private, and girl-friendly sanitation facilities. There is little to no access to water, soap, or disposal bins—making safe menstruation nearly impossible.
3. Stigma and cultural taboos: Menstruation is still a taboo topic. Girls are often shamed or teased, and many lack accurate information about their bodies.
4. Lack of MHM education: Both girls and boys in refugee communities often grow up without comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education. This leaves girls unprepared and boys misinformed—fueling stigma.
5. Poor school retention support: Schools rarely have MHM-responsive policies, emergency supplies, or female counselors to support girls dealing with menstruation-related issues.

The Cost of inaction?

The long-term effects of poor menstrual hygiene support are profound:

• Higher dropout rates, particularly after puberty
• Early marriage and teenage pregnancy
• Reduced lifetime income and fewer economic opportunities
• Psychological trauma and low self-esteem

When girls are denied their right to manage menstruation with dignity, it becomes not just a health issue—but a human rights crisis.

What Needs to Be Done?

To create a refugee response system that works for girls, a multi-sectoral, inclusive approach is required:

1. Distribute free and sustainable menstrual products: Provide reusable sanitary kits to girls in and out of school, along with training on how to use and clean them.
2. Build girl-friendly WASH infrastructure: Schools and community centers must have private, safe, and accessible latrines with water and disposal facilities.
3. Integrate MHM into SRHR and education curricula: Menstruation education should be normalized, starting at the primary level, and include both boys and girls.
4. Train teachers and male allies: Empower teachers—especially male educators—to be supportive rather than judgmental, and train boys to be respectful and informed.
5. Engage refugee women as MHM champions: Employ refugee women to lead MHM workshops, produce pads, and counsel adolescent girls—creating local employment while building trust.

Hope in action: Small Steps, Big Change

Organizations like AFRIpads, UNHCR, and Plan International have piloted promising MHM programs in settlements, including pad distribution, menstrual health clubs, and WASH upgrades. Yet, sustained funding and community-driven solutions are still lacking.

If more attention and resources are directed toward MHM in refugee settings, the payoff is clear: higher school attendance, better health, restored dignity, and empowered future leaders.

A Call to Action

Let us not allow a lack of menstrual hygiene to rob girls of their education and future. Refugee girls are resilient, courageous, and full of potential. With proper MHM support, they can rise above displacement and become the next teachers, nurses, community leaders, and changemakers.

“Periods shouldn’t pause education. Let’s ensure that refugee girls stay in school, with pride—not in silence”

NCF funding statement: Breaking the cycle — Supporting refugee girls in Uganda facing menstrual hygiene challenges

NCF is seeking urgent financial support to implement a menstrual hygiene management (MHM) initiative targeting vulnerable refugee girls—both in and out of school—in northern Uganda’s refugee settlements. Every month, thousands of adolescent girls in settlements like Palabek and Rhino Camp face stigma, absenteeism, and school dropout due to a lack of access to sanitary products, inadequate WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities, and limited menstrual health education.

According to recent data from UNHCR and the Ministry of Education, 1 in 10 refugee girls drop out of school due to menstruation-related challenges, and up to 40% miss several days of class each month. This consistent disruption pushes girls further behind academically and often results in permanent dropout, early pregnancy, and lost potential.

To break this cycle, NCF is requesting $25,000 to implement a 12-month MHM and girls’ education support program. This initiative will:

• Distribute dignity kits (reusable sanitary pads, underwear, soap) to at least 2,000 girls
• Improve WASH infrastructure in schools and community spaces with safe, girl-friendly toilets and washing areas
• Conduct community and school-based menstrual health education to reduce stigma and misinformation
• Train peer mentors and teachers to support adolescent girls
• Empower refugee women to produce reusable pads locally, creating jobs and sustainability

By investing in menstrual hygiene management, we protect girls’ rights to education, health, and dignity—and build stronger, more resilient refugee communities. Every contribution counts toward ensuring that no girl is left behind simply because of her period.

Support NCF today and help keep refugee girls in school—safe, confident, and empowered.

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