By Kaleb Yikii

Arua

Sexual Reproductive Health Experts have called upon stakeholders in Arua District to consider Menstruation not as a disease but as a woman’s Pride.
According to Ministry of Health Data, an Average of 1,000 teenage Pregnancies are reported per day in Uganda and Arua District has the Highest Number of teenage Pregnancies in West Nile Region.

These according to Experts have been mainly due to myths and Misconceptions on Menstrual Cycle management in both Schools and Homes. It is against this Backdrop that, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance (SRHRA) Uganda, with funding from Aghakhan Foundation through “Strengthening Menstrual Health Management Project”; organized one day Debate on the Theme “Is menstruation a girls Issue?”. This Debate attracted representatives from fourteen Schools both Primary and Secondary Schools in Arua District where, each school sent participants to either support or disagree with the Motion at Vurra Secondary School.
Margaret Nannyombi, the Programs Manager Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance Uganda says, so many teenagers conceived during the COVID-19 Lockdowns because they did not have sanitary pads to use so they went out to ask boys and Men for money to buy Sanitary Pads  who took advantage of them.
The Debate is aimed at Hearing from the Boys and Girls about their Understanding on Menstruation in order to help to demystify issues on Menstrual Cycle Management to them by Health Experts. “Through the School Debates, we want to see whether there still exist myths and misconceptions around women’s menstruation and whether it is still a woman’s issue, or it has changed that the Boys at School can support their female Counterparts during menstruation instead of laughing at them and causing them to drop out of the School”. She Explains.

Phiilip Ronny Atibo Reproductive Health Expert with Reproductive Health Uganda advises the Boys to support the Girls emotionally in Schools and homes because, Menstruation is a special Moment in life of every Girl or Woman. He also Advised Girls to Bathe three times a day during their Monthly Period, Change non-reusable Sanitary Pads every three Hours, Wash and display the Non Reusable Sanitary Pads on hangers for Clothes to avoid Infection,  and to seek Medical Help when their Period Extends Beyond Seven Days. Namayanja Sheirat, the Youth Country Coordinator Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance Uganda says, When it comes to the Sexual Reproductive Health of Girls and Young People at large, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance Uganda does not only look at women and Girls accessing services, but they also Look at women and Girls in terms of gaining Knowledge. The “Strengthening Menstrual Health Management Project” aims at Boosting Women and Girls Confidence on discussing menstrual issues without being stigmatized”. She Reiterates.

Alfred Okuonzi, the LCV Chairman Arua district, applauded the Efforts of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance Uganda and Partners, and called on all Parents to get involved in the Menstrual Management of their Girls and Wives. He Said that to him the simple literal Understanding of menstruation is that it is the ‘Crying’ of a disappointed Uterus, and thus urged all the young brothers and Sisters to continue to disappoint this Uterus Until they have sufficient Cassava floor and the Chicken to entertain this Visitor -Baby. “The Bible says there is Time for Everything, the worst tragedy in Life is when you start your family Life with Pregnancy.” He urges.
The Best Debater from the Primary School side was A’diejinia Freda from Eceko Primary School While Patrick Onziga was the best debater for Secondary School from Vurra Secondary School.