Implementation Support for Welthungerhilfe (WHH) MC intervention in Karamoja, Uganda

Donate Now

Implementation Support for Welthungerhilfe (WHH) MC intervention Karamoja, Uganda

Overall objectives of the project:

1. Improve the capacity of WHH beneficiaries to safely and effectively manage their menstruation, as well as effectively address a range of reproductive health issues.

2. Provide a sustainable MHM method (menstrual cups) for 60 WHH beneficiaries.

3. Educate WHH beneficiaries on reproductive health and menstrual hygiene management, including training on menstrual cups, how to safely and effectively use them, and secondary/support groups to support appropriate use.

4. Engage the communities in discussions on menstruation; deepen their understanding on how it impacts girls, women and their families; address related stigmas and taboos; and create open spaces for talking positively about menstruation and reproductive health issues.

General description:

In Uganda, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) works in water and sanitation (WASH) supporting construction of latrines for families, community wells with pumps, health centre/school water systems/sanitary facilities, locally-produced solutions for hygienic hand washing, called ‘Tippy Tap’, as well as menstrual hygiene management (MHM).

In recent years WHH has trialled innovative MHM solutions in schools in Lotome Sub-County in Nakapiripirit district, Karamoja, which have included commercial disposable pad donation schemes, and reusable sanitary pads produced in Uganda. However, the girls have not been satisfied with the reusable pads for a number of reasons, including experiences with leakage and issues with washing and drying (limited availability of warm water and pads not drying quickly enough before they need to be used again). WHH therefore now wishes to introduce a more sustainable and potentially more acceptable MHM intervention using MCs, including comprehensive menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health education.

WHH has not previously presented women from the income-generating project to any MHM solutions, however a number of the WHH WASH income-generating groups are positioned around water points providing the required sanitary conditions. WoMena intends to support with the design and implementation of the MC intervention, training of trainers and other aspects. The MC intervention would be tailored to fit into WHH’s broader project design and implementation modalities, and would be embedded in these structures, so that it can synergize on existing resources.

The pilot intervention will be carried out in Moroto due to the availability of supervision and follow up. Lessons learned from the pilot will feed into potential scale up of WHH WASH interventions and other WHH projects. The intervention will first be tailored to the context and “piloted” in two smaller groups. Here 30 schoolgirls from either a secondary school or a high school and 30 young women, who are already mothers and involved in an income-generating project will receive a MC through WHH’s water and sanitation (WASH) programme.

Collaboration partners:

Welthungerhilfe (WHH)