Schools for Salone to Host Webinar on Menstrual Equity in Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, menstruation remains one of the most overlooked barriers to education. Every month, thousands of girls miss school simply because they lack access to menstrual hygiene products or are silenced by shame and stigma. In some cases, the cost of a pad is enough to derail a girl’s future. 

The silence around this issue has gone for too long and it is costing girls their health, dignity, and education. 

To address this crisis and drive national attention towards menstrual health and period dignity, Schools for Salone is hosting a webinar titled, “From Pads to Progress: Advancing Girls’ Health and Education in Sierra Leone” on May 27th 2025, in commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The webinar will take place at 9:30 AM Pacific Time, 12:30 PM Eastern Time, and 5:30 PM GMT. Registration is now open via this link: https://streamyard.com/watch/M58A6uWaBVU9 

Why This Webinar Matters

In rural and remote areas of Sierra Leone, girls continue to suffer due to limited access to menstrual products and entrenched cultural taboos. These challenges lead to missed school days, lower academic performance, and in some cases, permanent dropout. 

Some girls have to use unhygienic materials like rags or newspapers during their periods that pose serious health risks. Globally, an estimated 500 million people lack access to adequate menstrual hygiene facilities and products. 

Despite these realities, menstrual health is still an overlooked issue in Sierra Leone and is hardly addressed. But the data is clear: improving menstrual hygiene is a critical step toward improving health outcomes, advancing gender equality, and increasing school retention rates for girls in the country. 

A Local Solution to Menstrual Hygiene Issues in Sierra Leone 

Since 2020,  Uman Tok, a women-led initiative supported by Schools for Salone, has worked to shift this narrative. 

Uman Tok has produced and distributed over 50,000 reusable pads and provided thousands of girls with menstrual hygiene kits and reproductive health education. It has also created a safe space for girls to talk openly about menstruation, helping reduce stigma and encourage healthy practices. 

Uman Tok’s continued success shows what is possible when communities begin to address menstrual issues and give young girls the tools they need to thrive. 

This webinar will feature national and international voices working to make menstrual equity a reality. It will focus on discussions about the link between menstrual health and girls’ access to education, community-driven approaches to dismantle period stigma, policy and advocacy strategies to scale menstrual hygiene initiatives, as well as opportunities to collaborate and support grassroot movements like Uman Tok. 

A woman at Uman Tok making a reusable pad

Who Will Be Speaking at the Webinar

The speakers include leaders from menstrual hygiene, education, and reproductive health sectors.

Isata Dumbuya- Director of Maternal and Reproductive Health, Partners In Health, Sierra Leone

Isata Dumbuya is a seasoned midwife with over 20 years of experience, including extensive practice in the UK. After many years in the UK, she returned to Sierra Leone to help address the country’s high maternal mortality rate.

At Partners of Health, Sierra Leone, she has led efforts to strengthen maternal and neonatal care systems. She led numerous trainings, built partnerships with government stakeholders, built trust with traditional birth attendants, and supported the development of the new Maternal Centre of Excellence. 

As a mother of five and a passionate health advocate, Isata blends global expertise with deep community engagement to create lasting change in maternal healthcare in Sierra Leone. 

Leeann MaHota Rizk- Country Director, The Mama-Pikin Foundation

Leeann MaHota-Rizk is a public health professional with over a decade of experience in sexual and reproductive health education and advocacy. 

A passionate advocate for adolescents, women, and families, she led community health programmes across the U.S. and Sierra Leone, including HIV prevention in Harlem and reproductive health mobilization with Planned Parenthood in Greater New York. 

Since 2021, she has served as the Country Director for Mama-Pikin Foundation in Sierra Leone, where she continues to drive maternal and child health initiatives. Leeann holds a Masters in Public Health with a specialization in maternal and reproductive health from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. She is also a proud first-generation Sierra Leonean and mother of two. 

Juliet Rhoman- Executive Director, Uman Tok

Juliet Rhoman is the Executive Director of Uman Tok, a women-led organization  supported by Schools for Salone and committed to ending period poverty and advancing menstrual health in Sierra Leone.

Under her leadership, Uman Tok has produced and distributed 50,000 reusable pads and provided reproductive health education to girls and boys in rural communities.

Juliet’s work centers on breaking the silence around menstruation, promoting dignity, and ensuring that no girl misses out on education because of her period. Her commitment continues to drive national conversations around menstrual health and gender equity. 

Diana Nelson- Global Advocacy Director, Days for Girls International

Diana Nelson is the Global Advocacy Director at Days for Girls International, where she leads global efforts to advance menstrual health policy, education, and access. 

Her work spans menstrual product standards, supply chains, and advocacy for period-positive workplaces. Diana has helped shape key initiatives including South Africa’s reusable menstrual product standards and the launch of the SA menstrual Health Coalition. 

She also co-chairs the Menstrual Health Supplies Workstream for the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition and holds leadership roles with the Global Menstrual Menstrual Collective and the African Coalition for Menstrual Health. 

Diana holds a Master’s in TESOL and a Bachelor’s in communication with a minor in Sociology. 

Allison Sinning-  Executive Director, Schools for Salone

Allison Sinning is the Executive Director for Schools for Salone. She served in the Peace Corps and taught in Sierra Leone from 2010 to 2012. She has experience working with NGOs and social services such as the Peace Corps Liberia, Lutheran Social Services of SD, EmBe, and SfS. Allison is passionate about education, civil rights, and social action.

Join the Conversation!

This menstrual hygiene day, Schools for Salone invites educators, donors, health professionals, advocates, and policy makers to be part of the conversation. The webinar offers a platform to learn, engage, and act on one of the most crucial, but under addressed, issues facing girls in Sierra Leone.

Register now to be part of the growing movement for period dignity and help ensure every girl can manage her period safely and confidently without compromising her future. 

REGISTER HERE!