Putting menstrual hygiene management on to the school water and sanitation agenda

The water and sanitation community, in partnership with the educator sector, is long overdue in taking ownership of the menstrual hygiene management agenda for schools in low-income settings. While the global community writ large is implementing numerous interventions aimed at closing the gender gap in education, attention to assuring schools are non-discriminating structural environments where both girls and boys can succeed academically continues to be limited. Engaging schoolgirls in the assessment process to determine the essential water and sanitation interventions needed to enable comfortable school attendance and participation during monthly menses is critical. Solutions can be cost effective, but must be grounded in the local context, and designed according to the recommendations of school-going girls.