In many schools across Zambia, girls are silently struggling with something very natural menstruation. While this is a normal part of growing up, poor menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in schools has turned it into a crisis of dignity, health, and safety. The issue isn't just about having pads, it's also about what happens after they're used, and how poor disposal affects the entire school environment.

Without proper education, safe disposal methods, and supportive infrastructure, menstrual hygiene becomes more than a personal burden. It turns into a public health concern, a sanitation issue, and a barrier to girls  education. When Pads Are Disposed the Wrong Way In schools where there are no disposal bins or incinerators, many girls have no idea what to do with their used sanitary pads. Some hide them in corners, throw them into bushes, or worse flush them into toilets. This causes serious problems. I witnessed a case at school where a girl flushed her pad down the toilet, and it caused a major blockage. For an entire week, the toilet was out of use. The smell became unbearable, and the waste took a lot of resources to unclog. Every student was affected. This situation not only disrupted school sanitation but increased the risk of infections. Poor menstrual waste disposal like this leads to blocked toilets, the spread of infections from exposed menstrual blood, and environmental pollution. It also causes increased absenteeism among girls and often results in shame, bullying, and low self esteem.

Why This Keeps Happening?

There are several reasons why menstrual hygiene continues to be poorly managed in schools. First, many girls aren't taught how to safely dispose of pads, and schools often lack proper facilities like disposal bins or incinerators. Toilets are rarely designed with menstruating girls in mind, offering little privacy or hygiene supplies. Cultural silence plays a big role, menstruation is still seen as something shameful or secret. When boys and even some teachers are left out of the conversation, it creates an unsafe or awkward environment for girls to speak up or ask for help. In many cases, girls also lack access to safe and affordable sanitary products, which forces them to use unsafe alternatives or skip school entirely.

Health and Environmental Risks Menstrual waste left in the open or flushed down school toilets poses serious health and environmental risks. Menstrual blood, especially if improperly handled, can carry pathogens that lead to infections. Poorly managed menstrual waste can contaminate school grounds, clog sanitation systems, attract flies and rodents, and increase the risk of disease spread in both schools and surrounding communities.

What Can Be Done?

Solving the menstrual hygiene crisis in schools takes more than handing out pads. It requires a community wide, system based approach that supports girls before, during, and after their periods. We must start by educating everyone not just girls, but boys, teachers, and parents too. Teaching girls how to safely dispose of pads, and encouraging open, stigma free conversations about menstruation, will break the silence that holds so many back. Improving school facilities is also essential. Every girls' toilet should have a bin with a lid, and where possible, schools should build simple incinerators or disposal pits.

Toilets must be clean, private, and equipped with running water and soap. Access to sanitary products must also be addressed. Schools can help by providing free or subsidized pads, educating girls on reusable alternatives where appropriate, and supporting local production efforts to lower costs. Finally, we need strong school-wide support. Health clubs and trained teachers especially female mentors can guide and support girls.

Involving boys in menstrual health education also reduces stigma, teasing, and shame. Menstruation is not just a personal matter it's a school wide and community wide issue. When girls are not supported, they miss school, fall behind in class, and suffer in silence. When used pads are not properly disposed of, every student is put at risk. If we want cleaner schools, safer communities, and empowered young women, we must treat menstrual hygiene management as a priority. Not once a year, but every day, in every school.

References
1. UNICEF Zambia (2023). Menstrual Hygiene Management Guidelines for Schools.
2. WaterAid (2020). Menstrual Hygiene Matters: A resource for improving MHM.
3. African Development Bank (2021). WASH in Schools: Challenges and Opportunities in Zambia.
4. Miiro, G. et al. (2018). Menstrual health and school attendance: Evidence from Uganda. PLOS ONE.