Menstrual Health & Hygiene (MHH) project through football

With funding from Laureus SOL Foundation, Tackle is implementing a 2-year programme aimed at improving Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Hoima City and Kikuube District.

This programme uses football sessions delivered by trained female coaches who are schoolteachers to improve comprehensive MHH knowledge, reduce period inequality and increase reusable pad making knowledge among AGYW across 40 schools. During this period, 40 schoolteachers were trained to deliver MHH education through football sessions in both urban and rural schools.

The teachers received an intensive 5-day training course designed to improve their ability as football coaches as well as give them the MHH knowledge to become high level “health through football” educators. Footballs, cones, bibs and menstrual health products such as reusable pads and menstrual cups were distributed to facilitate the delivery of sessions.

The programme has reached over 830 AGYW with MHH information through football. In the last quarter, Tackle distributed 842 packets of reusable pads to AGYW with the intention of reducing the number of girls dropping out of school which leads to possible early marriages and teenage pregnancies. A female participant aged 12 from St. Aloysius P/S Hoima City was quoted “Tackle supported us with reusable pads which last up to 5 years.

The reusable pads will help me manage my periods efficiently. I am happy that I will not be spending money to buy pads every month.” “I extend my appreciation to Tackle for being responsible for girls. You have taught us how to keep our bodies clean, how to wash our menstrual products during and after periods. I am sure with this information and support no girl will stay home during her periods due to lack of menstrual pads.” Tuhaise Irene from Sir Tito Winyi P/S Kikuube.

Compiled by: Peace Patricia Aanyu, Phone: +256 774 123203, Email:patricia@tackleafrica.org