Health 25 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Menstrual Cups: A Game-Changer Against Menstrual Poverty for Ugandan Girls
Menstrual poverty forces many Ugandan girls, like 14-year-old Daisy from Kapelebyong District, to skip school during their periods due to lack of proper hygiene products. Menstrual cups emerge as a durable, affordable solution that boosts attendance, health, and dignity while tackling environmental waste. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/life/why-menstrual-cups-are-essential-in-combating-menstrual-poverty-among-ugandan-girls-5436466
In rural Uganda, girls like 14-year-old Daisy in Kapelebyong District face a monthly ordeal. As her period begins, she stays home, using worn cloths that risk leaks and embarrassment, missing vital school lessons and falling behind in her dream of becoming a nurse.
This story highlights menstrual poverty, affecting about 65% of Ugandan women and girls who lack safe products. Many improvise with rags or worse, leading to infections, stigma, and school absences—one in five girls misses classes, some up to 20% of the year.
Disposable pads are costly and wasteful, while reusable cloths demand scarce clean water and privacy. Menstrual cups, made of medical-grade silicone, offer a better way: one cup lasts 5-10 years, collects blood hygienically without chemicals, and cuts irritation risks.
Users report fewer school misses, better confidence, and resource savings for food or books. Environmentally, they replace thousands of pads, reducing plastic waste in areas with poor management.
Challenges include cultural myths about virginity and the need for training and water access. Solutions call for school education, government subsidies, NGO partnerships, and improved sanitation to normalize cups and empower girls.
Adopting menstrual cups could break poverty cycles, ensuring girls stay in school and claim their futures.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)