Promoting Menstrual Health in Refugee Communities: Shared Action Africa Introduces Menstrual Cups at Visionary Blue School.
During the launch of the menstrual cup and the distribution of sanitary pads by Shared Action Africa at Visionary Blue School in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement, Shared Action Africa health workers engaged both boys and girls in vital discussions on personal hygiene and sexual and reproductive health.
The sessions aimed to build awareness and confidence among students. Boys were sensitised on how to treat girls with respect, particularly during menstruation, while girls were guided on proper hygiene management and encouraged to feel confident during their periods. In addition to distributing sanitary pads, the team introduced the menstrual cup—a sustainable and reusable innovation in menstrual hygiene.
Shared Action Africa Health workers demonstrated the correct use of the menstrual cup and encouraged girls to share their experiences and challenges with menstrual health at school.
Owomugisha Novence, a 15-year-old pupil in Primary Seven at Visionary Blue School and a refugee from Rwanda, shared her personal struggles:
“It has been difficult for me to afford sanitary pads. Sometimes my parents can’t even pay my school fees, let alone buy me three packets of pads, which cost UGX 5,000 each. I use two packets every month. So, whenever I got my period, I would stay home and miss school. Sometimes, I would improvise with old pieces of cloth, but changing them at school was difficult. There was no proper place to dispose of them and replace with clean ones. Carrying extra cloths in my bag was embarrassing in front of classmates. They often weren’t clean or secure, and I didn’t feel comfortable. I couldn’t play or interact freely with friends because I was afraid the cloth might fall out, which was very shameful. Now, we see hope for the future. Shared Action Africa introduced us to the menstrual cup, which can be used for more than a year. We’ve learned how to use it properly, and it will help us save the money we used to spend on pads. We won’t miss school anymore because of our periods. We’ll feel free and confident to engage with others at school. We truly appreciate Shared Action Africa for the great work they are doing to support girls.”
Through initiatives like this, Shared Action Africa continues to promote dignity, education, and health for adolescent girls in refugee communities—helping them stay in school and thrive.