Girls’ Parliament Tackles Menstrual Stigma and Sanitary Pad Access in Pujehun
The United Team Sierra Leone (U-TEAM-SL), through its Girls’ Parliament, on Saturday, 17 October 2026, held a consultative round-table dialogue on the theme “My Pad, My Right, My Dignity” at the Pujehun District Council Hall, with support from the Inclusive Networks Supporting Peaceful Information and Responsible Engagement (INSPIRE) Programme.
The engagement brought together members of the Girls’ Parliament from the 14 chiefdoms in Pujehun District, school leaders, pupils, teachers, media representatives and other stakeholders to discuss menstrual health and hygiene, access to sanitary pads, and the challenges girls face in managing menstruation with dignity.
Speaking at the event, Mohamed Kallon, Head of Secretariat at U-TEAM-SL, described the Girls’ Parliament as a mock parliament established to raise awareness of issues affecting girls while providing a platform for leadership development and participation.
He said the dialogue aimed to encourage open discussions about menstruation, address menstrual stigma and discrimination, and highlight the difficulties some school-going girls face in accessing menstrual hygiene products and related support. He added that U-TEAM-SL would continue using the platform to enable girls to share their experiences and participate in discussions on their rights, health, education and well-being.
Kallon noted that the initiative received support from AID-SL and the European Union through the INSPIRE Programme, emphasising the importance of inclusive participation, responsible engagement and peaceful dialogue in addressing community concerns.
Michela Hawa Jah, Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament, said the theme highlights the need to ensure that girls have access to sanitary pads and appropriate menstrual health information without shame, discrimination or unnecessary barriers. She also called for collaboration among community stakeholders, educational institutions, civil society organisations and other relevant actors to improve menstrual health awareness and protect girls’ dignity and rights.
Guest Speaker Hon. Mariama Munia Zombo expressed appreciation to U-TEAM-SL for the initiative, describing it as significant to broader efforts to empower girls, protect their dignity and create an environment that enables them to pursue their education and participate fully in community life.
Members of the Girls’ Parliament from the 14 chiefdoms also shared ideas and recommendations aimed at improving menstrual health awareness, strengthening community support and helping girls manage menstruation safely and confidently.
The event concluded with a practical session facilitated by Haja Nafisatu Tunis Kaiwo on the proper use of sanitary pads, followed by the distribution of bags to beneficiaries and a group photograph.
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