SRHR: CAGEAD Champions the Institution of Menstrual Hygiene Management Policies in Schools!

​SRHR: CAGEAD Advocates the Institution of Menstrual Hygiene Management Policies in Schools!

By Ruth Che Wachong


As part of activities for the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development, (CAGEAD through it's Project titled "Improving Girls Educational Attainment through Proper Menstrual Hygiene Management in Schools" recently organized a one day event to sensitize stakeholders on the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Management Policies (MHMP).

In a presentation titled “Understanding the 5 Ws of Menstrual Hygiene Management”, the Vision Bearer of CAGEAD, Clotilda Andienda Waah said, the creation and institution of a Menstrual Hygiene Management Policy in all Schools will greatly complement their work and also increase access to MHM which happens to still be a major concern in most schools.She also adviced school officials present to include a budget head for MHM in their various Institutions by each owning a “Pad bank”. This move according to the CEO will ensure the safety of pupils and students during their periods, as they will be able to have pad supplies when on their periods in school.


“A study earlier carried out at the International level by UN Women, UNESCO and UNFPA revealed that many girls especially in the North West Region suffer for lack of MHM friendly toilets and wash facilities in schools. These statistics caused the UN Women and ebase to facilitate the execution of this project set out to increase knowledge on proper MHM in school. We have soo far been able to orientate students on different pads to use, how to produce pads, increase access to MHM products like disposable and reusable pads, pants, detergents.

Clotilda Andienda Waah
CEO CAGEAD

"Through this Project we have also trained Teachers on best practices in MHM, produced and distributed training manuals, trained Club and Peer Coordinators, set up clubs where students where trained on producing reusable pads in Nkambe and Mezam”
Clotilda Andienda Waah explained.

Teachers present at the Advocacy Meeting

In a presentation on the overview of Menstrual Hygiene Management, Comminication officer at CAGEAD, Tangiri Maxcel demonstrated the Menstrual process with the help of a Menstrual Wheel, during which the concept of Menstration was carefully explained for easy comprehension by teenage girls.

“Menstrual Hygiene Management refers to practices and facilities necessary for women to manage menstruation in a healthy and dignified manner. While MHM Education helps break down taboos and stigma” Tangiri Maxcel.

Tangiri Maxcel
Communications Coordinator CAGEAD

According to the CEO of CAGEAD, Lack of access to knowledge, difficulty in accessing menstrual products, inadequate water sanitation and wash up facilities, social stigma due to the myths and taboos in some communities, among other factors pushed CAGEAD to engage in the execution of the MHM campaign in schools around the Region. A project which to the CEO has recorded huge success as CAGEAD has also been able to successfully carry out the distribution of about 5000 Dignity kits, menstrual wheels, calendars to track menstruation in some ten schools in the Region.The rehabilitation, and in some cases construction of MHM friendly toilets in some schools, provision of disposal bins, pad dispensers, among others are part of CAGEADs success story so far.

Participants at the Advocacy Meeting 

The Board Chair of CAGEAD, Fultang MaryBenadette, on her part lauded the efforts of CAGEAD team and partners in ensuring that Menstruation and other Reproductive health needs of teenage girls are met.

Fultang MaryBenadette
Board Chair CAGEAD

A major highlight of the Advocacy Meeting were diverse presentations on MHM topics by Schools and award of prizes to laurrets.


Jointly sponsored by UN Women and ebase, the event brought together stakeholders from Civil Society Organizations, Schools, Churches, Traditional and Religious Authorities, Political and Adminstrative Authorities, who all took an engagement to carry out proper MHM sensitization and fast track the construction of Menstrual Hygiene Facilities in their respective areas.

Appendix 





Published by UPFRONT 

May 27, 2024


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