World Menstrual Hygiene Day
On this globally significant day of ‘world menstrual hygiene day that is commemorated on 28th May every year, we reflect on our impactful strides in championing menstrual health through our “Keep a Girl Child in School” campaign that was launched back in 2023 in partnership with the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA).
Menstruation, a natural biological process, still remains a barrier to education for millions of girls across Africa. As we mark this important day, we remember why we began this campaign and why it must continue. Too many girls face a silent struggle each month. Without access to sanitary pads or menstrual hygiene education, many girls from underprivileged backgrounds are forced to stay home, miss school, or drop out entirely. For these girls, periods aren’t just a health issue, they are a direct threat to their future.
Data from Uganda’s Ministry of Education reveals that girls from poor families miss up to 20% of school days per year due to lack of menstrual hygiene products. That’s not just time lost; its opportunity missed. It is for this reason therefor that we took action with this campaign. Through this campaign, AAYC and UNSA set out to normalize menstruation, distribute sanitary towels, and provide reproductive health education in schools and communities. We reached hundreds of girls with not just pads, but power to understand their bodies, advocate for their rights, and stay focused on their education. The campaign in addition also sparked conversations among boys, teachers, parents, and local leaders ensuring that menstrual health is no longer whispered about in shame, but discussed openly as a human rights and education issue.
On this day we also remind ourselves that ending period poverty is not just a health concern, it’s a strategic step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) cannot be fully achieved unless we address the menstrual health needs of our girls. This also aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an inclusive and equitable Africa where every child, regardless of gender, has equal access to education.
The success of the “Keep a Girl Child in School” campaign has laid a solid foundation. But our work is far from over. As AAYC, we are now moving to advocate for policy-level interventions, including government subsidies on sanitary pads, integration of reproductive (menstrual) health and sex education into the national school curriculum, as well as improved water and sanitation facilities in schools.
This is also a call on partners, donors, and youth-led organizations to join us in scaling up efforts across the Afro-Arab region.
As we commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, we recommit to standing by all girls across the Afro-Arab region. This is also a call on partners, donors, and youth-led organizations to join us in scaling up our effort to “Keep a Girl Child in School”. Together, let’s create a world where menstruation is no longer a limitation, but just another rite of passage.