From Evidence to Action: CAGEAD’s MHM Work Showcased at Policy Event to Inform Decision Makers
Menstrual hygiene management is a critical issue that affects the health, dignity, and education of millions of girls and women worldwide. In Cameroon, particularly in the North-West region, girls and women face significant challenges in managing their menstruation, including limited access to sanitary products, inadequate water and sanitation facilities, and cultural taboos and stigmas.
The Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development CAGEAD, was privileged to be part of the policy event to disseminate the Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) evaluation results on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025, in the Auditorium of the North West Regional Assembly, where she presented her work in the presence of dignitaries in the education sector of the region.
This project was implemented in the East, Far North, North West and South West Regions during the 2023/2024 academic year. It involved 40 schools across these regions with funding from eBASE Africa, supported by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) UK. Guided by the Minister of Secondary Education’s CLEAN AND SAFE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE, 40 toilets were constructed/rehabilitated, 680 teachers trained on menstrual hygiene, 40 MHM Clubs created and over 20,000 girls received dignity kits.
For the trial phase, CAGEAD worked in 10 schools in Mezam and Donga-Mantung Divisions in the NW Region with support from UN WOMEN on the project titled, Improving Girls Educational Attainment through Proper Menstrual Hygiene Management Best Practices in Schools and Communities in the NW region of Cameroon under four pillars which are Increasing Knowledge on MHM best practices, Increasing Access to MHM Infrastructure, Increasing Access to MHM products and Advocacy. The project aimed to address the challenges school girls face by promoting menstrual hygiene management best practices as a critical aspect of girls' health, dignity, and empowerment.
CAGEAD worked with, CCAST Bambili, G.B.H.S Bamenda, G.T.H.S Nkwen, Step by Step College, G.B.H.S Downtown in Mezam division and G. B.H.S Nkambe, G.T.H.S Nkambe, G.H.S Nyanji, G.H.S Tabenken, G.H.S Dumbu in Donga-Mantung division.
CAGEAD trained 20 teachers as club coordinators from 10 schools on proper MHM practices who stepped down the training they got to 15 teachers from the 10 schools making it a total of 150 teachers sensitized on proper MHM practices in schools. 20 MHM manuals were Produced and distributed, 10 MHM Clubs were created in the 10 schools with a total number of 750 club members: 552 girls and 225 boys trained in the MHM clubs. 10 educative talks held in 10 communities on MHM best practices. 10 toilets rehabilitated to be MHM sensitive, with hand washing devices and waste management pits with running water. Each school received cleaning equipment to ensure that the toilets are always ready for use by the students. Also, 700 questionnaires administered in each school and 500 beneficiaries were selected per school: 2500 in Mezam and 2500 in Donga Mantung, making it a total of 5000 qualified beneficiaries. 5600 MHM Kits distributed to girls in 10 schools as well 10 giant menstrual wheels 1 per school. 20 teachers and 20 peer educators were trained on the production of reusable pads using local materials and hand-sewing machines.
A study was conducted on the effectiveness of MHM in improving menstrual hygiene practices, amongst AGWY from 5 intervention schools and 4 control schools. The study recorded a total of 768 respondents, 384 from intervention schools as well as control schools. Results showed that students from intervention schools have more knowledge on MHM, than those from the control schools. Also, students from intervention schools performed better than those from control schools because they had menstrual hygiene friendly infrastructure. And an advocacy meeting that brought together 24 stakeholders from all around the NW region was held.
The project's evaluation showed significant improvements in MHM knowledge and practices among students in intervention schools compared to control schools. Community engagement and awareness led to reduced stigma, increased support from boys and teachers, and allocation of budgets for MHM by Parent-Teacher Associations
The representative of the Governor of the North-West region emphasized, "Menstrual hygiene goes beyond infrastructure, Teachers need training on MHM and sustainable supply of MHM materials in schools is crucial. It is about knowledge, attitudes and practices around menstruation too"
As recommendations, the president of the NWR Assembly stated that the MHM project has been implemented just in 02 divisions in the North West Region while the region has 07 divisions, therefore the need for same intervention to be extended to other divisions. She also encouraged CSOs to develop a mature project and submit to the Regional Assembly and it will be funded. She also encouraged principals of various intuitions to come up with projects to help them resolve challenges through the regional delegate of Education.
The commissioner for Education Sports and Cultural Development thanked ebase for the opportunity and CAGEAD for a job well done. She also requested that more quantitative research be done with results that will be used to influence policy change. Also, the representative from the Bamenda University of Science and Technology (BUST) recommended that MHM education be extended to the ministries of Higher Education and Basic Education.
By Emmanuela Monie