The District Chief Executive for Bongo, Madam Diana Asoketarige Ayamga, has donated sanitary pads to female students of three Junior High Schools in the district to mark World Menstrual Hygiene Day on Thursday, 28th May 2026.
The beneficiary schools were Awaa Junior High School, Atanseka Junior High School, and Fr. Lebel Memorial Junior High School. The initiative forms part of government efforts to support girls’ education, promote menstrual hygiene management, and improve school attendance among adolescent girls.
“Sanitary products are a necessity, not a luxury”
Speaking at the event, Madam Ayamga stressed that access to sanitary products is essential for girls to remain in school.
“By providing these resources, we seek to ensure that no girl misses out on her education or any opportunity due to menstruation. Let us continue to break the silence and challenge the stigma surrounding menstrual health,” she stated.
She reaffirmed government’s commitment to addressing menstrual health challenges and highlighted the District Assembly’s role in supporting the welfare of young girls.
“This will help improve school retention and empower young girls to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to national development,” the DCE added.
Madam Ayamga also urged students to stay focused on their education and avoid negative distractions, especially from social media.
“Stay focused, work hard, and become role models because the future of this nation rests on your shoulders as the next generation of leaders,” she advised.
The District Director of Education, Michael Ayamdor, urged students to take their studies seriously and appreciate government’s efforts toward their welfare. According to him, menstruation should never be treated as a taboo since it is a natural biological process.
He appealed to parents and guardians to support their daughters by providing sanitary pads to help them maintain hygiene and remain in school.
“Work hard to become responsible citizens and agents of positive change,” he encouraged.
The Headmaster of Fr. Lebel Memorial JHS, Norbert Atiabila Ayuuriyesiya, expressed gratitude for the donation, saying it would reduce the burden on girls from poor homes.
“We have some girls coming from very poor homes. Their parents cannot even provide sanitary pads for them. During menstruation, they sometimes feel uncomfortable coming to school,” he stated.
He noted that the donation would help female students remain confident, hygienic, and focused. He also disclosed that the school has a private washroom and changing space where girls can take care of themselves during menstruation before returning to class.
Fr. Lebel student Abraham Agandaa thanked the DCE, saying the support would enable girls to concentrate fully on their education.
Another student, Margaret Apuusiwine, shared her personal experience:
“Before receiving the sanitary pads, I often felt ashamed and afraid to attend school during my menstrual period because of fear of staining my uniform and being mocked by colleagues. But today, after receiving the sanitary pads, anytime I experience menstruation, I can go to school without fear and without feeling ashamed.”
Apuusiwine appealed to society to support and educate girls on menstrual hygiene instead of mocking them, stressing that menstruation is a natural process every girl experiences.
The event forms part of broader efforts by the Bongo District Assembly, the Education Directorate, and stakeholders to promote menstrual hygiene awareness, protect the dignity of the girl child, and ensure no girl is denied education because of menstruation.
Students, teachers, and community members widely commended the initiative as a major step toward empowering girls and promoting equal access to education in the district.
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