Sanitary Pads Keep Girls in School
Summary The Project Girls Support Program
has three main initiatives: keeping girls in school, informed about their
sexual health, and economically independent. The Project Girls Support Program
has developed initiatives to assist girls in successfully completing their
education. These programs include: Supplying sanitary pads to girls who are
menstruating; Constructing private 'girls only' latrines; Providing accurate
health information and mentorship through a female health worker. Challenge In
drop-out rates are high for rural girls. Up to 80% of girls entering primary
school will never complete their primary education. The highest teen pregnancy
rate in Girls having their first baby by the time they are 18. HIV infection
rates are 9 times higher in girls than boys the same age and Their has one of
the highest maternal death rates in the world, 25% of which are from unsafe
abortions.
Solution We will keep girls in school which in turn will affect the
entire community through training students to act as peer leaders about
reproductive health, distribution of sanitary pads to girls in school and
construction of girls only private latrines at school. Early data show that the
programs have had a remarkable impact.
Long-Term Impact Early data show that
the program has had a remarkable impact. Girls in schools with peer-educators
are better informed about reproductive health and more comfortable with
discussing issues around menstruation, puberty and relationships with boys. We
now have 14 trained women teachers supporting 42 trained student- educators in
14 schools serving 5000 girls. Additionally, data is showing a steady increase
in girls attending school since we began distributing sanitary pads.Please Donate
