By Nagasha Shallon,
Op_Ed
Menstrual health is not merely a health or hygiene issue, it is a matter of climate justice, gender equality, environmental sustainability and human dignity.
For many people, menstruation and climate change appear to belong to two entirely different conservations. One is often viewed as a personal health matter, while the other is discussed in the context of rising temperatures, floods, droughts and environmental degradation. Yet for millions of women and girls, these issues are deeply connected. Ignoring that connection means overlooking one of the most significant barriers to achieving gender equality, public health and climate resilience.
Every month, women and girls across Uganda face challenges in managing their menstrual health with dignity. Many lack access to affordable sanitary products, clean water, safe sanitation facilities and accurate menstrual health information. These challenges are even more severe in rural communities, informal settlements, refugee hosting areas and regions increasingly affected by climate change.
Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern. It is disrupting livelihoods, damaging schools and health facilities, contaminating water sources and increasing the frequency of floods and prolonged droughts. These environmental shocks have direct consequences for menstrual health and hygiene. When floods destroy sanitation facilities or drought reduces access to clean water, managing menstruation safety and hygienically becomes increasingly difficult.
Girls are often among the first to bear the consequences. Schools damaged by extreme weather events or lacking adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities leave many girls with little choice but to stay home during their menstrual periods. Repeated absenteeism affects academic performance, lowers self-confidence and increase the risk of school dropout, ultimately limiting educational and economic opportunities.
The burden does not end in the classroom. Women and girls frequently travel long distances to fetch water during periods of drought, while climate -related disasters increase the time they spend on unpaid care work. Managing menstruation under these conditions becomes not only a health challenge but also a matter of dignity, safety and human rights.
The environmental dimension of menstrual health also deserves greater attention. Every year, large quantities of disposable menstrual products contribute to solid waste, particularly in urban areas where waste management systems remain inadequate. At the same time, many women and girls continue to rely on unsafe alternatives because environmentally sustainable menstrual products remain inaccessible or unaffordable.
This presents an opportunity rather than a dilemma. Investing in reusable sanitary products, menstrual cups where appropriate, biodegradable menstrual materials and locally produced eco-friendly sanitary pads can improve menstrual health while reducing environmental pollution. Such innovations can also create green jobs for women and young entrepreneurs, contributing to local economic development and environmental sustainability.
Addressing menstrual health therefore requires moving beyond the health sector alone. It demands coordinated action across education, water and sanitation, environmental management, climate adaptation, gender equality and economic development. Menstrual health should be integrated into climate adaptation plans, disaster preparedness strategies, school resilience programmes, and community health initiatives.
Government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations and the private sector all have an important role to play. Investments in climate-resilient schools, reliable water supply systems, gender responsive sanitation facilities, waste management infrastructure and affordable sustainable menstrual products are investments in both public health and climate resilience.
Equally important is breaking the silence that continues to surround menstruation. Harmful cultural beliefs, stigma and misinformation continue to prevent open discussions about menstrual health. Creating safe spaces for dialogues in homes, schools, workplaces and communities is essential for ensuring that menstruation is understood as a normal biological process rather than a source of shame.
Climate justice cannot be achieved while ignoring the everyday realities faced by women and girls. A resilient society is one that ensures everyone can live with dignity, even during the times of environmental stress. Menstrual health is not a luxury, nor is it a private issue to be sidelined in climate conservations. It is a matter of health, education, environmental sustainability, gender equality and human rights.
As Uganda continues to strengthen its climate action and sustainable development agenda, menstrual health and hygiene must be recognized as an essential component of resilience -building. Policies and investments that overlook the needs of women and girls risk leaving behind those who are already disproportionately affected by climate change.
The conversation on climate action must therefore become more inclusive. Protecting the environment also means protecting the dignity, health and well-being of the people who depend on it. Ensuring that every woman and girl can manage menstruation safely, confidently and sustainably is not only a public health priority -but it is a climate justice imperative.
Only when we recognize the connection can we build communities that are healthier, more resilient and truly equitable.
Women for Green Economy Movement Uganda (WoGEM Uganda)
