Menstrual Health a Public Responsibility
NGO WASH Forum, Ministry of Education, calls for stronger policies and collective action to keep girls in school
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 -- 28-05-2026 -- Menstrual health is a serious public development issue, not a private or taboo matter, requiring urgent collective action, with stakeholders emphasizing that it is a public responsibility whose neglect affects education, equality, and national development.
She said menstrual health remains under-prioritised despite its direct impact on education, dignity, and gender equality.
Muyovwe said many girls continue to miss school due to lack of sanitary products, inadequate sanitation facilities, and limited information on menstruation.
She identified key challenges including weak policy frameworks, limited financing, inadequate WASH infrastructure, and persistent stigma surrounding menstruation.
Muyovwe called for stronger policies and clear standards for menstrual-friendly facilities in schools and public spaces, alongside increased and sustained investment in menstrual health programmes.
She further said the Forum is urging the integration of menstrual health into broader WASH systems, including access to clean water, private sanitation facilities, and safe waste disposal mechanisms.
Luulu said menstrual health is not only a health issue, but also a matter of dignity, education, equality, and human rights.
He noted that many girls continue to face challenges such as limited access to sanitary materials, inadequate sanitation facilities, insufficient information on menstrual hygiene, and harmful myths and misconceptions.
According to Luulu, these challenges contribute to absenteeism, reduced classroom participation, and poor academic performance among learners.
He said the Ministry of Education remains committed to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments where girls can manage menstruation with dignity and confidence without disruption to their education.
Luulu further called for strengthened collaboration among government institutions, schools, parents, communities, and cooperating partners in addressing menstrual hygiene challenges.
He also stressed the importance of empowering girls with accurate information and adequate resources to improve educational outcomes and promote gender equality.
Luulu urged stakeholders to break the silence surrounding menstruation and eliminate stigma, stressing that no girl should be disadvantaged in education because of a natural biological process.
She said society must create an environment of empathy, care, and understanding, noting that menstruation is a natural reality that requires continuous support and proper management for every girl and young woman.
She further stressed that communities, families, schools, and institutions must stand in solidarity with girls and women by showing concern and care in promoting menstrual hygiene and dignity for all.
Healthy Learners Assistant Director of Innovation and Development, Demitria Walk of Healthy Learners, said menstrual hygiene management remains a challenge in schools due to limited education, weak infrastructure, and inconsistent access to sanitary materials.
However, she noted growing opportunities driven by stronger partnerships and wider engagement, including the involvement of men in menstrual health discussions.
Walk said this growing participation is helping to break cultural barriers and improve understanding of the lived experiences of girls and women.
She emphasized that sustained collaboration is essential to strengthen education and awareness at community and school level.
Similary, Healthy Learners Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, Mandy Banda of Healthy Learners, said menstrual hygiene challenges cannot be resolved through awareness alone, but require both cultural and structural interventions.
She called for improved WASH infrastructure in schools, emphasizing the need for facilities that ensure privacy, dignity, and safety for girls.
Banda also raised concerns about unequal access to sanitary materials in schools and called for fair distribution systems to ensure no learner is left behind.
She added that many schools still lack adequate infrastructure, with girls consistently expressing the need for private and safe spaces to manage menstruation.
Presenting research findings on Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) on behalf of the Project WISE II consortium partners — Splash International, BORDA Zambia, and iDE — Ms. Bwalya Chirwa, a Behavioral Design Researcher and Specialist, said the findings will play an important role in co-designing context-specific and localized school-based MHH curricula.
Chirwa explained that the research is intended to help develop practical and inclusive menstrual health interventions that respond to the lived realities of learners in different communities and schools.
She said Project WISE II (WASH in Schools for Everyone Phase 2) aims to provide safe, inclusive, and sustainable WASH and menstrual health services to more than 700,000 learners in about 407 government schools in Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola, and Chipata.
She explained that the project will achieve this through improved school infrastructure, behaviour change programmes, and menstrual health education.
Responding to a question on Project WISE II’s approach to parent and community involvement in menstrual health and hygiene, the project’s Behaviour Change Team Lead, Ms. Hazel Mphande, said the initiative recognizes the broader social ecosystem surrounding girls, including peers, teachers, parents, and communities.
Mphande explained that the project seeks to strengthen menstrual health social ecosystem management by using research findings to develop localized training materials for parents and guardians.
She said the initiative also aims to build the capacity of families and communities to participate meaningfully in menstrual health discussions and support girls more effectively.
Stakeholders, including the and the Ministry of Education, called for stronger coordination among government, development partners, and civil society to ensure menstrual hygiene management is fully integrated into school health systems.
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