GUMA #4 – Health for Women in Uganda

Improved Menstrual Health, Water Safety, and Infection Protection

For women in Uganda, menstrual health, water insecurity, and infectious diseases are the biggest health challenges. Most women cannot afford menstrual hygiene products (sanitary pads). Their performance in school or at work is limited. The GUMA #4 project, funded by the Morpho Foundation, educates women, provides information, and contributes to better management of these issues.

 

 

Four women and two small children stand indoors beside a green program banner, while one woman in a navy outfit smiles warmly at the camera.

Tackling Women’s Health Challenges in Uganda

Maternal and child mortality rates have increased in recent years. The number of underweight children has also grown. Additionally, the consumption of unsafe water, shared with animals, and drinking unboiled water have led to the widespread prevalence of waterborne diseases and infections such as schistosomiasis, cholera, and dysentery. GUMA #4 is a project that specifically addresses these health challenges.





Educational Modules in GUMA #4 Provide Knowledge for Women in Uganda








 


A green headline reading Improved Menstrual Health and Hygiene appears beside a white checkmark inside a circle on a soft beige background.
Nähen der eigenen Binden
Sewing Reusable Pads


In compact training sessions, participating women receive important information about menstrual health and hygiene. Finally, the women sew their own reusable sanitary pads and receive materials for two additional pads to share their knowledge with friends.


The content also includes the female cycle and education on sexually transmitted diseases..


 


Green text reading “Safe Water Use and Soap” appears on a beige background beside a white checkmark icon, creating a clean, health-focused notice.
Mädchen lernen sichere Wassernutzung
Learning Safe Water Use


 In a second module, participating women are educated about water safety, such as the hygienic storage of water. The knowledge is a contribution to their health.


Additionally, the girls make their own liquid soap and learn everything about handling water, its procurement, storage, and purification.


 


Soft beige background with a white checkmark in a circle and the green headline Business and Marketing centered across the banner.
In a pilot project, the girls learn how to earn their own income by reselling the pads they made. They also create a marketing plan.


Collaboration with Experienced Partners


The training sessions are organized by four local partner organizations from Stay. All are members of the Ugandan association LATEK Stay Alliance. The partners are often registered as NGOs but conduct entrepreneurially conceived projects, such as agricultural projects in schools and soap production. They are socially motivated and act entrepreneurially. Their common goal: to offer the poorest families in Africa opportunities to sustainably improve their own lives.


Project Facts about GUMA #4


A bold red prohibition sign crosses a white speech bubble inside a green circle, signaling no talking or messaging in a clean graphic style.
For many women in Uganda, menstruation is a taboo topic. They often cannot talk about their complaints. As a result, girls miss school more frequently, and women cannot go to work.


A white map of Uganda appears inside a green circle with the national flag centered over the outline, creating a simple country emblem graphic.
The training sessions take place in four regions in Northern, Western, Eastern, and Central Uganda.


A white 2892 sits inside a bright green circle on a black background, creating a simple numeric emblem with bold contrast and clean layout overall.
Up to 2892 women in Uganda are directly or indirectly reached through the training modules


A white number 4 appears centered inside a green circle on a black background, creating a simple numbered graphic with strong contrast.
Four local social entrepreneurs organize the training, all members of the Stay Alliance. Local trainers then conduct the training sessions.


Effective through Local Embedding


At the end of the training sessions, a joint event is held at the social enterprises. Important community actors such as health advisors or local radio journalists are present. The goal is to further anchor the importance of hygiene, health care, and nutrition in public awareness. Some of the trained women share their experiences.


Empowered women, empowered communities


A proud group of ladies showcasing their handmade reusable pads crafted from readily available materials. It reflects empowerment, creativity, and awareness about menstrual hygiene, especially in communities where access to sanitary products is limited. These sustainable solutions not only promote menstrual health but also foster improved livelihoods and support long-term community growth.


Inside a tailoring workshop, a group of people stands behind sewing machines and thread spools, with fabric and tools spread across the tables.
A group of women hold pink fabric pieces beside sewing machines in a tailoring workshop, with spools of thread and handmade garments around them.
Six women stand together on a rural dirt road, smiling and holding small wrapped items, with lush green trees and banana plants behind them.
Three smiling young women sit together outdoors in a garden and hold reusable sanitary pads, with one shirt reading Future Is Female.
Two children stand outdoors by a tree, each holding a reusable face mask, one colorful and one purple, in a rural setting.
A woman stands outdoors on a rural path holding two patterned cloth pads, with green trees and grass filling the background.
Inside a tailoring workshop, a group of people stands behind sewing machines and thread spools, with fabric and tools spread across the tables.
A group of women hold pink fabric pieces beside sewing machines in a tailoring workshop, with spools of thread and handmade garments around them.
Six women stand together on a rural dirt road, smiling and holding small wrapped items, with lush green trees and banana plants behind them.
Three smiling young women sit together outdoors in a garden and hold reusable sanitary pads, with one shirt reading Future Is Female.
Two children stand outdoors by a tree, each holding a reusable face mask, one colorful and one purple, in a rural setting.
A woman stands outdoors on a rural path holding two patterned cloth pads, with green trees and grass filling the background.