Resilience Building: Menstrual Health and Community Dialogue

Menstruation has long been surrounded by stigma, misinformation, and neglect in Uganda's fishing communities. Women were forced to hide their experiences, while girls missed school due to lack of sanitary pads or fear of being shamed. The Resilience Building of Fishing Communities project is changing this.

Community Dialogues That Shift Norms

KWDT has facilitated a series of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) dialogues in communities including Sowe and Mbeya Island in Mukono District, engaging women, men, and youth in honest conversations about menstruation.

"Training with the men has given us confidence and an opportunity to freely manage menstruation." — Female participant, Sowe

What the Project Covers

• Community awareness sessions on menstrual hygiene management for women, men and youth
• Training on production of reusable sanitary pads
• Engagement with schools to support girls' continued education during menstruation
• Integration of MHM into KWDT's broader WASH programming
• Advocacy for menstrual health as a public health and gender equality issue at district level