Menstrual Hygiene & Health (MHH) Program
Breaking menstrual taboos, empowering women, and building systems for sustainable dignity and health.
Pro Pride has implemented a program focusing on promoting gender equality by encouraging the adoption of MHH practices and changing beliefs related to menstruation, to empower girls and women, and improve their status in society from February 2022 to March 2025. It has implemented various program activities in Adama town and surrounding kebeles in partnership with CARE Ethiopia, CARE France, and with financial support from AFD through BNNP. The activities the organization has implemented were categorized into three major Pillars.
Program Duration & Reach
- Timeline: March 2022 – March 2025
- Areas: Adama City and peri‑urban kebeles in Oromia Region
- Target Groups: Students (in ~60 schools), factory workers, university students, community members, health professionals
Pillar One: Sensitization to healthy MHH practices and advocacy: Improving MHH knowledge, creating demand for sanitary products, and advocating for support to women and girls from institutions and communities
- Radio Sensitization Program:- The program aired 104 weekly 30-minute “Ababoo” radio episodes over two years, first on Asella Fanna FM and then on Adama Broadcasting Services, reaching about 1.2 million listeners, including an estimated 330,000 from the intervention area.
- Support School Mini-Media to pass messages on MHH to Students: – “Ababoo” radio messages were copied onto flash disks and shared with schools and industrial parks to raise MHH awareness among 82,743 students (37,618 male and 45,125 female) and factory workers without internet access.
- Training on MHH with school staff:-The project trained 2,621 participants (2,462 female), including students, teachers, and school staff, on MHH topics such as menstrual practices, hygiene materials, disposal, myths, and inclusivity. Training materials were distributed, and participants developed school-level action plans submitted to education offices for follow-up.
- Print and distribute puberty/menstrual hygiene booklets for girls and boys:– A total of 20,000 puberty and menstrual hygiene booklets were printed and distributed to schools, health facilities, and AIP trainees, with digital copies shared via Telegram to enhance access and awareness.
- Engagement with University student clubs and Gender departments for joint work on awareness raising/campaigns:-Pro Pride and CARE partnered with Adama Science and Technology University’s Gender Directorate to implement MHH awareness activities. Trained university students mentored 1,096 school students on puberty, menstruation, and related topics using provided manuals, booklets, and the Base App.
- Identify and train employees on MHH and work-related rights: – A total of 1,106 Adama Industrial Park workers (1,071 female, 35 male) were trained on MHH, life skills, and workplace policies to promote healthy and productive lives.
- Establish and train VSLA groups in VSLA and MHM awareness and management, including safe washing and disposal practices of MHM products and pain management: – Pro Pride established 10 VSLAs with 235 members, providing training on VSLA principles, business skills, and MHH. Members mobilized Birr 468,595 in savings, supported by ToT and follow-up trainings to strengthen management, financial literacy, and MHH awareness.
- Provide Training of Trainers (ToT) on MHH for Health Extension Workers and Health Facility Workers: – 333 health professionals were trained on MHH, reaching 153,144 community members and students, while key dates like International Women’s Day and MHH Day were observed to raise awareness and reduce stigma.
Pillar two: Production and distribution of sanitary products:
The MHH program engaged 55 shops, including school, retail, and AIP outlets, to distribute menstrual hygiene products via a voucher system, formalized through MOUs. Using this system, 30,000 reusable pads were distributed to students, factory workers, and community members, procured from “Mela for Her” for quality products at a reasonable price.
Pillar Three: Construction and maintenance of sanitary infrastructures adapted to MHH for girls and women in their living areas.
Under Pillar Three, Pro Pride and CARE improved sanitation and hygiene in 54 schools (36 urban, 18 rural), constructing 27 new latrine blocks (142 seats), rehabilitating 68 existing blocks (413 seats), installing/upgrading 41 water fountains, and connecting water to MHH rooms in 35 schools. Additional interventions included partition walls in 23 MHH rooms, a new latrine at Fana Primary, and roof water harvesting in two schools. School directors and student clubs received training on maintaining WASH and MHH facilities.
Outcomes of the MHH Program
The MHH DIB program improved awareness, attitudes, and behaviors around menstrual health, enhancing students’ well-being and school environment. Female students gained confidence to discuss MHH openly, while male students became more supportive and empathetic. MHH rooms and improved sanitation facilities reduced absenteeism, ensured privacy, and promoted hygiene practices. The program also fostered a supportive school culture, with teachers and administrators prioritizing menstrual health, and extended its impact to the wider community as students shared knowledge and advocated for MHH practices at home.
Impact at a Glance
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Community outreach participants | 22,721 |
| Radio audience reached | 1.2M listeners (330K local) |
| Students reached via school media | 82,826 |
| University mentees coached | 1,096 |
| Factory workers trained | 1,106 |
| Individuals receiving health education | 153,144 |
| Total reusable pads distributed | >30,000 |
| VSLA savings mobilized | Birr 468,595 |
| Loans disbursed via VSLA | Birr 297,100 |
| WASH facilities upgraded | 36 blocks, 116 toilets, 18 fountains, 65 hand‑wash stations, MHH rooms in 35 schools |
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Email: info@propride.org
Phone: +251 11 663 0144 | +251 91 120 0602
Address: Sister NGOs Building, Yeka Sub‑city, Woreda 9 (near Athletics Federation), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Branches:
– Dire Dawa: Kezira, Kebele 03 – Tel: +251 25 112 5143
– Addis Ababa: Lideta Sub‑City,