EACOP launches 'Keep a Girl in School' initiative to improve menstrual health and hygiene in schools

By our correspondent , Singida

The *East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)* project has launched the first phase of a school-based menstrual hygiene program known as 'Keep a Girl in School' under its Social Economic Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility ( SEI/CSR) program .

 The initiative aims to empower Primary and Secondary School girls—especially those living in rural areas—to attend school consistently and improve their academic performance by providing various forms of support, including sanitary pads along the EACOP corridor.

Speaking during the launch, EACOP’s Manager for Community Empowerment and Accountability, *Ms.Clare Haule, said the program will initially be implemented in three regions namely Singida, Shinyanga, and Dodoma*, covering a total of *19 schools* and benefiting more than *4,596 students*.

She explained that in the first phase, the program will be implemented in six schools in Singida, seven in Shinyanga and six others in Dodoma.

“This program will be implemented in phases. In this first phase, we have started in these three regions and will later expand to other regions in the country,” she said.

“Overall, we expect to reach 4,596 students in 19 schools,” she added.

Haule noted that various studies still show that *15 to 20 percent of girls miss school for one to two days each month due to menstruation- related challenges.

 This situation is largely caused by a lack of proper sanitation facilities at school during menstruation and limited access to sanitary pads.

Through this program, EACOP aims to provide reproductive health awareness programs and create a supportive environment for menstrual hygiene management in schools to help reduce absenteeism and poor academic performance among female students.

She further stated that besides this initiative, the EACOP project continues to implement various *community development programs, aimed at improving the well-being of communities affected by the project. 

These include projects in *agriculture, beekeeping, entrepreneurship and business training.

Speaking at the event, the *Singida Regional Medical Officer, Dr. Victorina Ludovick*, who represented the Regional Commissioner, said the program aligns with the goals of the *National Development Vision 2050*, which emphasizes gender equality and access to essential services for children, including girls.

“By supporting proper menstrual hygiene management in schools, we are laying the foundation for responsible and empowered women who will contribute to our nation,” said Dr. Victorina.

She emphasized the importance of protecting and empowering girls—who are among key contributors to national development—by providing them with a safe learning environment so they can continue their education without obstacles.

The *Acting Regional Education Officer for Singida, Ms. Regina Yaghambe*, also said the program has come at the right time, as it will help reduce absenteeism among girls caused by the lack of proper menstrual hygiene facilities in schools.

Some parents who attended the launch said that before the program began, their daughters often missed classes during their menstrual periods due to a lack of essential supplies such as sanitary pads and private sanitation facilities.

They added that sometimes they had to give their daughters *pieces of cloth to manage menstruation, while others even rarely used plant leaves* because sanitary pads were not available or affordable—especially for families with low incomes and those living in rural areas.

“We thank EACOP for starting this program for our daughters who used to miss school and feel excluded from their peers. This is a great support for us as it motivates girls to perform better and gain confidence in school,” said *Ms. Faulina Sinde*, a resident of Igauli.

Students who received the sanitary pads said the support would help them feel more confident during menstruation and allow them to attend all their classes.

One of the students, *Edina Metusaeli*, a Form Four student at *Ntonge Secondary School*, said the assistance would help them attend lessons without missing classes as they had done before.

“These sanitary pads will help us attend all our classes without missing them and allow us to study hard so that we can achieve our dreams,” she said.

The launch of the program took place at *Igauli Secondary School*, located in *Igauli Village, Ntonge Ward, Singida District Council.

The *EACOP project*, which stretches *1,443 kilometers*, runs from *Hoima in Uganda to Chongoleani in Tanga.

The project’s shareholders include *TotalEnergies (62%)*, the *Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) (15%)*, the *Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) (15%)*, and the *China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) (8%)*.