The Baja California Sur Secretary of Health is distributing 15,000 hygiene kits to female middle school students across the state as part of a national program launched in 2025. The initiative targets schools in under-resourced urban areas where the cost of menstrual products contributes to absenteeism among adolescent girls.
First Deliveries Reach La Paz Schools
During the first quarter of 2025, health officials delivered kits at two La Paz schools: Secundaria Técnica 13 and Secundaria Humberto Muñoz Zazueta. Both campuses are classified as serving urban-marginal zones, a designation the Mexican government uses for low-income neighborhoods on city peripheries.
Each delivery included informational sessions on menstrual health. The sessions focused on public health science and stigma reduction, aiming to normalize conversations about menstruation among students and school staff.
A National Strategy to Keep Girls in School
The program is part of a broader federal strategy to reduce school dropout rates among adolescent girls. Across Mexico, studies have linked period poverty to missed school days, particularly in families where the cost of pads or tampons competes with other basic household expenses. By providing free hygiene products directly at schools, the program removes one financial barrier to attendance.
BCS, with its relatively small population of about 800,000, faces distinct challenges in reaching rural and peri-urban communities spread across the peninsula. The state’s middle school population is concentrated in La Paz, Los Cabos, and Comondú, though the program’s scope covers the entire state.
What the Program Includes
The 15,000 kits are designated specifically for female secondary school students, covering girls roughly ages 12 to 15. While the state government has not detailed the exact contents of each kit, similar federal programs in Mexico typically include sanitary pads, soap, and printed health information.
The educational component pairs the kit distribution with guided discussions led by health workers. These sessions address menstrual cycle basics, hygiene practices, and the social stigma that can discourage girls from attending school during their periods.
The BCS Secretary of Health has not announced a timeline for completing all 15,000 deliveries, though the first-quarter distributions at the two La Paz schools mark the program’s initial phase in the state. This story was first reported by the Baja California Sur state government website.