UNFPA and UNICEF Sanitary Pads Initiative Is making a Breakthrough in Keeping Girls in Schools in Rivercess County.

"We can now stay in school during menstruation," says 19-year-old Grace Togar, a 12th-grade student at Green Passion  School System in Cestos City, Rivercess County. Grace heads the  Adolescent Girls Advisory Panel, an advocacy group of adolescent girls responsible to advocate for participation and leadership in Rivercess County. Speaking at an engagement meeting with UNFPA Resident Representative Dr. Mady Biaye, during his field mission to Rivercess, Grace expressed deep gratitude for UNICEF and  UNFPA's support with the provision of sanitary pads in schools. 

The provision of sanitary pads is part of a wider support to comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools and includes the establishment and support of 20 school health clubs in Rivercess County. Prior to the programme, as Grace noted, girls would leave school when their menstruation began, with many of them not returning due to the distances of their homes. Grace added that menstruation was a source of discomfort and shame, rarely discussed, which led to high absenteeism particularly among adolescent girls. "Back then, you did not want your period to start on campus because you do not have pads to change after cleaning yourself, and boys would tend to bully you too," Grace recounted.

Decontee Paye, Guidance Counselor at Cestos High School also in Rivercess County, confirmed the situation highlighted by Grace: "Prior to the inception of UNFPA and UNICEF  Comprehensive Sexuality Education activity... absenteeism among adolescent girls was common... at Cestos High School where I work, most girls were absent during recess period because most of the girls would go home on the excuse that their menstruation had started."

Left to Right: Decontee Paye, Grace Togar, Titus Ponnie, Theresa G. Dixon and Michael Bondo shared their perspectives on the impact of UNFPA-sponsored CSE activity in Rivercess County. ©UNFPA Liberia/George Y. Sharpe

While the availability of pads has brought immediate relief, Ms. Paye highlighted the broader impact of CSE. School-going adolescents in Rivercess now have a higher understanding of menstrual hygiene management and are eager to share this knowledge with their peers. Furthermore, CSE has fostered crucial discussions on family planning's role in preventing teenage pregnancy and STIs—a major step toward reducing Rivercess's high teenage pregnancy rate of 55 percent. Ms. Paye noted that CSE counseling significantly dispelled myths that family planning causes infection and reproductive health disorders.

The programme has also fundamentally changed the social environment. Theresa G. Dixon, an 18-year-old 11th grader at the Green Passion School System, emphasized that CSE is vital not only for preventing teenage pregnancy but also for reducing the risk of infections (from wearing one pad for too long) and, importantly, reducing bullying.

The shift is particularly evident among boys. Titus Ponnie, an 18-year-old 11th grader male student at Cestos High School, recalled that previously, boys would be embarrassed to discuss menstrual health, and some would "laugh at the girls and bully them when we notice that they are bleeding." Now, with the help of CSE, Titus says boys are comfortable discussing menstruation with girls and understand that involving boys is essential for reducing teenage pregnancy. 

To sustain the programme's success, Josephine Kaye of Yarpah Town Public School called for improved Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities. "If we must sustain the progress made in terms of increased knowledge, we need to increase access to clean water and have decent washrooms for all students, particularly girls," she urged, noting that supportive school environments are crucial for improved menstrual health.

Josephine Kay (standing on the left) of Yarpah Town Public School speaks to UNFPA about the impact of CSE activity in her school, stressing the need to sustain the progress. ©UNFPA Liberia/George Y. Sharpe

Michael Bondo, UNFPA Programme Analyst working in Rivercess County, stated that the CSE programme is a critical strategy for tackling the county's high school attrition rate. While progress has been seen with the empowerment of adolescents, boys and girls, Michael sees the need for continued awareness with parents in homes and communities to build on this success. “UNFPA's strategy involves strengthening school health clubs to facilitate peer-to-peer CSE, linking them to youth friendly centers in health facilities, and connecting them to the general community to ensure improved Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) outcomes. The role of parents and community leaders in this process cannot be overstated”, Michael adds.

This story of change from Rivercess County represents early signs of success of the Nurture, Empower, and Protect (NEP) Joint Programme for adolescent girls SRHR and Nutrition in collaboration with UNICEF with funding from the Embassy of Ireland. As part of this programme,  UNFPA will support the Ministry of Education to deploy sanitary pad banks in 200 schools in Montserrado, Grand Gedeh, and Rivercess Counties.