I Matter Initiative, a local non-governmental organization, on Friday November 11, gave menstrual hygiene products to over 60 adolescent girls with disabilities who are studying in HVP Gatagara in Rwamagana district. The support is part of the End Period Poverty campaign that was sponsored by Bank of Kigali. During the event, young girls were educated on sexual reproductive health rights and management. The organization aims at ending period poverty in Rwanda and destigmatize menstruation by providing skills in Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). It distributes and donates free menstrual products to less fortunate girls in schools and raises advocacy to end taxation on all period products. Speaking during the event on Friday, Divine Ingabire, the Executive Director of I Matter Initiative said that the interventions seek to create a community of girls and women who are confident and informed on sexual reproductive health and rights. “We have given different menstrual products such as underwear, sanitary pads, and soaps among others to over 60 adolescent girls in HVP Gatagara in Rwamagana district. This is not the first time we support HVP Gatagara. This is the third school of HVP Gatagara we have supported. These include HVP Gatagara in Nyanza district, of Huye, and the one Rwamagana. Bank of Kigali supported in this End Period poverty campain,” she said. She said that they selected HVP Gatagara school because adolescent girls with disabilities need special support. “We were supporting schools in general but adolescent girls with disabilities need special support so that they do not feel stigmatized. Some are abandoned by their parents and those who cater for them sometimes do not afford it. The support will prevent school dropouts and absenteeism among them,” she said. She said that the 60 adolescent girls were also trained and educated on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. “We trained them on preventing teen and unwanted pregnancies because the cases have been on the rise and triggering school dropouts and sexually transmitted diseases. We are partnering with medical students at the University of Rwanda to educate these adolescent girls,” she said. Ingabire said that the organization is supposed to support 1,500 adolescent girls in schools every month adding that it requires more funding. “That is why we got support from the Bank of Kigali and we need more partners to end period poverty,” she said. Placide Kaberuka Uwiringiyimana, the Deputy headmaster of HVP Gatagara-Rwamagana in charge of studies welcomed the support saying it will avoid absenteeism caused by lack of menstrual products among the vulnerable adolescent girls with disabilities. “Some parents cannot afford menstrual products for their children and therefore the support is timely. The knowledge about sexual reproductive health and rights, these girls have gained will prevent teen pregnancies and related effects such as fistula, sexually transmitted diseases, school dropouts, and mental health issues,” he said. He urged other partners to continue working with schools in promoting sexual reproductive health and rights.
