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
