Rural girls to receive sanitary wear

via Rural girls to receive sanitary wear | The Zimbabwean 9 July 2014 by Pamenus Tuso

Vana VeZimbabwe (Vavez) has embarked on the distribution of sanitary wear to disadvantaged girls in Matabeleland South.

The director, Josh Nyapimbi, told The Zimbabwean the project was in response to a baseline survey carried out in selected schools last year that revealed that 98% of girls need help with sanitary wear.

“A survey in schools in Umzingwane and Umguza rural districts survey revealed that 52 percent of all schools had no doors on their latrines and 92 percent had no soap. This makes it very difficult for young girls to manage their menstrual periods,” said Nyapimbi.

“The survey clearly showed that there is need to empower local communities, particularly women or school health clubs, on how to produce local, cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly sanitary wear,” he said.

Adolescence and puberty are challenging development stages for girls in Zimbabwe particularly those in poor families or rural communities. The silence, stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation keep many young girls ignorant about how to handle menstruation.

Nyapimbi bemoaned the lack of adequate puberty and menstruation education in schools. “Many school teachers have limited understanding of sanitary health.

All this can lead to absence from school and can contribute to girls ‘school dropout .The situation is further compounded by lack of sanitation, hand–washing facilities and hygiene education in schools,” said Nyapimbi.

The organisation is planning to produce a booklet with basic information about menstruation and hygiene. Nyapimbi said the distribution of the booklet would not only empower girls with the necessary knowledge, but would also increase their self–esteem and ultimately their school attendance.

“It will clarify myths and taboos that often surround menstruation. We expect that the recipients will share it with their siblings, female relatives and girls who are not in school,” he added.