CAGEAD advocates for policies that promotes Menstrual Hygiene Management in schools.

According to UNESCO (2014), in sub-Saharan Africa, menstruation accounts for 20% loss of school time amongst adolescent school girls. Menstrual hygiene management (MHM), remains poorly understood in the education, water hygiene and sanitation (WASH) and health sectors. High dropout rates and low completion rates persist among girls due to menstruation, inability to manage it as well as other puberty related problems. In Cameroon, there is, inadequate knowledge of menstrual hygiene practices in schools, poor maintenance of school sanitation facilities used by girls during menstruation and, negative impact of the absence of waste management systems on living conditions, have been identified as major challenges to proper MHM, according to WSSCC AND UNWOMEN,2015.

With all these in mind, CAGEAD in collaboration with UN Women, organized a stakeholder advocacy meeting on the 23rd of May 2024 in Bamenda, with the aim to engage policy makers to prioritize the implementation of comprehensive and inclusive policies that address the menstrual hygiene needs of, ensuring access to menstrual hygiene products, providing education on menstrual health and hygiene, and creating menstrual friendly facilities.

In the course of this very important meeting stakeholders including officials from MINPROFF, traditional and religious leaders, NGOs, and community members collectively recognized the crucial role of effective MHM in enhancing girls’ educational attainment and overall well-being. This collective recognition led to them pledging their support by signing the call to action bill. They went on to outline specific commitments to advance MHM initiatives in schools and communities. 

The Imam of the Bamenda Central Mosque committed to educate the Muslim community about the misconceptions surrounding menstruation during Friday prayers, while the  representative of the Fon of Bamendakwe expressed a commitment to encourage landlords within the Fondom to construct menstrual hygiene-friendly toilets in their homes, the Mayor of the Bamenda I Council highlighted ongoing efforts to improve sanitation facilities in the municipality and expressed openness to further collaboration with CAGEAD, meanwhile, representatives from the Ministry of Secondary Education, school principals, and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) on their part, committed to ensuring regular water supply in schools and maintaining hygienic toilets. The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, along with the Regional Assembly, expressed appreciation for CAGEAD’s efforts and promised continued support for MHM policies. Also, moved by the commitments made, close to 20 civil society organizations present at the event endorsed CAGEAD to lead a network of Menstrual Hygiene Management organizations in the North West Region. 

We believe the commitments and support from these stakeholders will go a long way to change the narrative of menstrual hygiene management in Cameroon.