…Rural School Girls Receive Panty Liners Instead of Sanitary Pads
…Ministry of Primary Education Says There Is Nothing Sinister
THE ministry of primary and secondary education (MoPSE) has come under fire from Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) experts after it emerged that there have been gross irregularities in the distribution of sanitary products under the Free Sanitary Wear Initiative that was launched by government in 2020.
By Michael Gwarisa
The Free Sanitary Wear initiative was announced by Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube in his 2020 National Budget where he allocated an amount to the tune of ZW$200 million (US$12.5 Million then) towards the procurement of sanitary wear and free distribution of sanitary products to rural girls who have reached puberty. The free sanitary wear programme commenced in January of 2020.
However, a report recorded in the Hansard of August 19, 2021, indicates that there has been discrepancies in the supply of the sanitary wear with indications that one rural school, Mangondo Secondary in Bikita, Masvingo received only 100 pant liners as tools to manage menstruation, one pant liner per pupil, while Musumhe High School has already received a double allocation of sanitary pads totaling 526 and four pant liners. A panty liner is a thin, absorbent pad worn in the gusset of underwear to absorb vaginal discharge or light menstrual flow. Panty liners are basically thin versions of pads used to prevent stains and keep underwear clean.
The inconsistent distribution of sanitary products has raised questions amongst members of the senate and Sexual Reproductive Health experts who have pointed out that the distribution of the sanitary wear was flawed and schools receiving pant liners were being short-changed as the products are not effective in meeting the needs of girls during the menstrual cycle.
In her presentation that was recorded in the Hansard of August 19, 2021, the Ministry of Primary Education Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Tumisang Thabela said they had delivered sanitary wear in the form of panty liners and sanitary pads to all the 2584 secondary school (boarding and day-schools). However, the Committee noted that there were irregularities in the distribution of the sanitary products and they have since recommended that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should in future, consider the provision of sanitary pads instead of pant liners.
The Committee noted that all schools received their first allocations in 2020 while some had received their second allocation in 2021. The committee noted that there were some variations on the type of sanitary wear received because some schools received pant liners instead of sanitary pads. This raised concern from the Committee considering that pant liners are not effective for girls during their menstrual cycle,” reads the Hansard.
To date Mangondo Secondary School has received 100 pant liners in 2020 with each pupil getting one pant liner each. Long distance learners were chosen upon identification by the school health committee. Musume High (Boarding) received 228 sanitary pads in the year 2020. Form 1 and 2 received one packet each while form 3-6 received 3 packets each. In 2021, Musume also received 298 sanitary pads and 4 pant liners and these are yet to be distributed. Tsholotsho High (Boarding) received 219 sanitary pads in the year 2020 with each girl getting three packets each. Maqhekeni Secondary 96 sanitary pads in 2020 and 48 pads in the year 2021. Madlambudzi High received 249 sanitary pads in the year 2020 with each girl getting one packet each.
Section 4 of the Education Amendment Act provides that the State must ensure the provision of sanitary wear and other menstrual health facilities.
Commenting on the irregularities in the distributing of free sanitary wear, Shamwari Yemwanasinsikan Executive Director, Ekenia Chifamba said the report exposes failure by office bearers to appreciate the health needs of girls especially those in rural areas.
“The government of Zimbabwe made a promise to the nation to provide girls with sanitary wear as a way of curbing menstruation poverty. We welcomed the government’s initiative. However, there has been reports of the government failing to live up to it’s promise. A Senate Hansard dated 19 August 2021 recorded that girls from Mangondo Secondary School received 100 panty liners in 2020 with 1 girl being allocated 1 pantyliner each. This is quite sad as we have office bearers who work directly with girls and are experts in issues that affect girls fail to differentiate between panty liners and sanitary pads,” said Chifamba.
She also said Panty liners are not sanitary pads and can never substitute sanitary pads adding that officials should be aware of the needs of the people and assist accordingly.
"We cannot have officials short- changing those who are in need of sanitary pads. Sanitary pads are expensive and very few can afford to buy sanitary pads on a monthly basis, hence the disappointed one gets when she only receives a pantyliner which is of little to no use. We need officials who are able to deliver rather that short changing those in dire need of services offered by the government."
Sexual Reproductive Health advocate, Sharon Musonza also weighed in saying the scenario whereby girls are in some instances getting panty liners to manage periods shows lack of commitment to end period poverty.
“It had me thinking, the average girl experiences menstruation for a minimum of three days with others going up to seven days, and the cycle takes place 12 times in a year (it did in 2020). It is also recommended that you change your sanitary pads after every four hours, as such in our normal day where we are active for 12 hours a day you’d need three pads. Three pads for three days that’s nine pads for an average girl.
“By any standard, to say, the government availed one panty liner (not even a pad) each to 100 students for the year 2020 shows no commitment to invest in addressing menstrual hygiene challenges and ending period poverty on their part. It is ridiculous. I implore the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to go back to the drawing board to evaluate their progress towards providing safety nets for girls as far as menstrual hygiene is concerned,” said Musonza.
Responding to HealthTimes on the matter, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Mr Taungana Ndoro said, “Panty liners are part of sanitary wear. “Adding that “Even sanitary pads alone can’t be distributed to manage menstrual health. The anomaly is that the schools are yet to receive their full sanitary wear kits.”
Meanwhile, Mr Yeukai Chuma, a researcher and coordinator for SRH and AIDS with the Parliament of Zimbabwe said even though there have been some challenges with regards to the implementation of the Free Sanitary wear initiative, a number of positives have since been registered.
“The issue of free sanitary wear is one issue that you will not fail to find on the agenda in parliament. The realization in putting that topic on the legislative agenda is a big success for Zimbabwe. From the year 2019 to 2021, government has been able to commit financially to advance a budgetary allocations towards the procurement of free sanitary wear for girls in schools.
“The money has been increasing and the targeted population has been has also been increasing. For this year, there is a target for 300,000 girls and next it going to around 400,000, 600,000 the following. So we are at a stage of progressive realization of that right for girls to get free sanitary wear. There is a lot of challenges but there been progress that has been happening towards provision of sanitary wear,” said Mr Chuma.
