Today, as we join the global community in commemorating Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 under the resonant theme “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” we are called to reflect on a pressing yet often overlooked issue: the urgent need to prioritise menstrual hygiene kits for vulnerable, school-going girls.

In many of the communities we serve, menstruation remains one of the leading silent barriers to education. Girls without access to menstrual products are more likely to miss school, up to five days a month, due to fear of leakage, lack of privacy, or simply the absence of basic sanitary supplies. Over time, these absences lead to lower academic performance and increased dropout rates.

Menstruation should not cost a girl her future.

The Power of a Simple Kit

A basic menstrual hygiene kit containing sanitary pads (reusable or disposable), underwear, soap, and a discreet storage bag can restore confidence and ensure a girl stays in school. It sends a clear message: you matter, your health matters, your education matters.

At Uganda Red Cross Society, we have witnessed the transformation that comes when girls are equipped not just with sanitary pads, but with knowledge and dignity. In areas where menstrual hygiene support is integrated into school and community programs, attendance improves, and girls thrive. Pads contribute to school retention.

Building a #PeriodFriendlyWorld Starts Here

The 2025 theme challenges us to go beyond providing pads. It urges us to build supportive environments where menstruation is normalized, not stigmatized. That includes:

• Ensuring schools have safe, private toilets and clean water.
• Training teachers and boys to foster empathy and understanding.
• Integrating menstrual health education into school curricula.
• Supporting policy changes that make menstrual hygiene a national priority.

A Shared Responsibility

As an organisation committed to the rights and well-being of children and adolescents, we call on our partners, donors, policymakers, and communities to step forward.

Menstrual health is not just a personal issue but rather an education issue, a gender equality issue, and a public health issue.

Together, we can make menstruation a reason to empower, not exclude.

Let’s work towards creating a truly #PeriodFriendlyWorld.

📢 Get involved! Support our Menstrual Health Initiative or donate a pack of 4 at only UGX 20,000 to keep a girl in school.

Visit https://redcrossug.org/donate/ and give towards this cause.

#MHDay2025 #PeriodFriendlyWorld #EndPeriodPoverty #GirlsEducation #MenstrualHealthMatters