Breaking Barriers, Keeping Girls in School
Period Talk Uganda in partnership with Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) student's guild conducted an impactful outreach at St Mary's Primary School Katete on 7th March 2025 engaging 300 girls in critical conversations about menstruation, menstrual health and period poverty.
St Mary's Primary School, a government school commissioned by Bishop Emeritus Paul Bakyenga in 1999, presented a familiar reality: overcrowded classrooms, limited resources and a deep need for menstrual health support.
The PeriodTalk outreach team found Primary 4,5,6 and 7 girls already clustered into two fully packed classrooms as arranged by their teachers and the school's senior woman.
A Growing Need for Menstrual Health
Through interactive discussions, the team uncovered key concerns among the girls:
Period Poverty - Many students worried about their parents' inability to afford pads.
Lack of menstrual health facilities - Shockingly, the school has no sick bay, meaning girls dealing with severe cramps or emergencies have nowhere to turn.
Limited guidance at home - Some girls live with single fathers or only male siblings, making conversations about menstruation challenging.
Challenges with male teachers - A number of students felt that their male teachers lacked understanding and empathy toward menstrual issues.
Pad disposal at school - Many were unsure about proper disposal methods, raising concerns about hygiene and privacy.
More than just students in need
While the outreach primarily targeted students, teachers also asked for pads, a reflection of how widespread period poverty is - even among employed adults. Period Talk distributed pads to all 300 students and provided contact information for further inquiries.
Breaking the Stigma, One Conversation at a time
Despite initial shyness, the girls gradually opened up, demonstrating a baseline understanding of menstruation but still requiring guidance on key topics.
The outreach which lasted from 2:00 to 4:15pm allowed for an open and engaging session, breaking taboos and providing much needed education.
What next?
This outreach highlighted urgent gaps in menstrual health resources, particularly the lack of a sick bay for students in need of medical attention. Additionally, the exclusion of boys from menstrual health discussions remains a barrier in many schools.
Period Talk intends to return to St Mary's Primary School with a session that includes boys and male staff, ensuring they are part of the conversation and can help create more supportive school environment. Menstruation is not just a "girls' issue" - it is a community issue and educating everyone is key to breaking the cycle of stigma and misinformation.
For support, partnerships or more information, reach out to Period Talk at +256 769 000 000