By
Fahad Muganga
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) have signed a partnership to reduce school absenteeism and improve menstrual hygiene education for young girls in Uganda’s marginalized communities.
Mbabazi Emejeit, DTB’s Executive Director said that through this partnership, DTB will support the Strengthening Adolescents and Youth (SAY) Empowerment and Rights Programme, with a contribution worth US$ 106,458 intended to ensure integrated sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) services are readily available and responsive to the needs of young people
The initiative is expected to reach 10,000 vulnerable schoolgirls, providing them with reusable sanitary pads (School Girl Kit) including five pads (two maxi, two mini, one super maxi), two carrying pouches, 10,000 pairs of underwear, 10,000 backpacks, and hygiene education booklets available in three languages. The reusable pads, supplied by AFRIpads Uganda, have a lifespan of up to two years.
The SAY Programme, launched last year by the Danish government in collaboration with UNFPA, is a four-year initiative running from January 2024 to December 2027 with a budget allocation of DKK 100,000,000 (approximately 55,000,000,000 UGX). It aims to enhance access to and utilization of SRHR and SGBV information and services among young people aged 10-24 in refugee settlements and host communities.
The evidence-based approach focuses on creating demand, strengthening service delivery, and fortifying the enabling environment at community and district levels. SAY empowers young people to assert their SRHR rights, prevent SGBV, and enhance the availability and accessibility of youth-responsive SRHR/SGBV services
Speaking at the event, UNFPA Uganda – Country Representative, Gift Malunga said that this initiative was started to empower girls and boys to responsibility for their sexual and reproductive health as part of the love to ensure that the country reaches sustainable goals.
She added that; for a long time, many girls have been facing reproductive challenges with many poor girls from far to reach and marginalized communities often missing schools whenever they hit their period days.
“It is focusing on empowering young girls to take responsibility of their sexual and reproductive health because we believe that investing in young people is essential even for the country to achieve sustainable development goals.” Malunga said
“We are all aware that girls in rural areas miss school when they are in their period, not because they want but it is because they do not get the sanitary well. So these are supposed to help them.” She added
The DTB/UNFPA partnership focuses on collaborating on health system transformations to enhance the health and well-being of women and girls, scaling up health innovations, developing innovative financing models for sustainable interventions, and conducting joint advocacy efforts to raise public awareness and visibility. Direct beneficiaries of this partnership will register reduced school absenteeism during the menstrual period and will have improved knowledge on reproductive health and menstrual hygiene.
On her part, Mbabazi Emejeit, DTB’s Executive Directo said that the partnership between not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the foundation for sustainable health improvements and gender equality, ultimately contributing to the overall development and empowerment of Uganda’s youth. “Our sustainability agenda looks at creating an environment and communities where all obtain social development as we protect the social resources,” Mbabazi said
“Through such partnerships, we intend to reach 10,000 vulnerable girls through our Achieve More Girl initiatives intended to sustain the girl-child in school as she prepares for social development goals in adulthood,” Mbabazi adds.
“As part of our unwavering commitment to sustainability, this initiative is just one of many under DTB’s comprehensive Sustainability and Citizenship Master Plan. Our strategy is built on six key pillars: Climate Action and Net Zero Strategy, Sustainable Financing, Responsible Supply Chain, Partnerships, Employee Well-being and Development, and Citizenship,” she adds.
