CIVIL society organisations has bemoaned the challenges faced by girls and young women in finding dignified sanitary wear.
By Patricia Mashiri
Sanitary wear has become expensive and a luxury for most girls as most of them resorted to using unhygienic waste materials which are uncomfortable and pose health hazards at times.
Speaking at a Women’s Action Group (WAG) virtual Menstrual Hygiene Day Commemorations, Nancy Jokonya, the Ministry of Health and Child Care representative who was the guest of honour said menstrual health and hygiene management remains a cause for concern particularly in developing countries such as Zimbabwe.
Due to factors such as poverty, cultural taboos and sanitation related challenges. Period poverty remains a struggle for women and girls in Zimbabwe.
“Even though our government made some efforts in scrapping duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary wear, the cost of sanitary wear is still beyond the reach of many women and girls. It is sad to note that women and girls, particularly those in the rural areas are using unhygienic sanitary materials as they cannot afford sanitary pads, which has negative implications on their health,”said Jokonya
She added that at times, young women and girls miss their classes during their periods and some would drop out of school entirely due to lack of sanitary wear.
She also challenged various stakeholders to play a critical role in ensuring that young women and girls are aware of good menstrual Hygiene practices and are also availed with necessary resources.
“The Menstrual Hygiene Day is meant to bring together individuals, organizations, communities and media to create a united and strong voice for women and girls around the world, assisting to break the silence and taboos about menstrual hygiene management,” she said.
A UNESCO report estimates that one in ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their menstrual cycle. By some estimates, this equals as much as twenty percent of a given school year.
Meanwhile, Dr Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda,Founder Rozaria memorial trust emphasized that periods are an economic issue hence the need to look into the issue as a matter of urgency.
“Periods is the essence of womanhood and little girls should be proud of their bodies but it is an everyday economic issue. Sanitary pads are expensive.
“With our blood we are watering the economy of the private sector .We import sanity wear whilst we grow cotton.We can have factories that produce these products,” said Dr Gumbonzvanda.
She added that there was need to pay attention to the need of toilets and water in most schools especially in rural areas so that girls and young women could use when they are menstruating.
Clemence Machadu, a trustee from the Sanitary Aid Zimbabwe highlighted the need to raise more awareness on menstrual hygiene especially in rural areas.
“Statistics shows that about 70% of girls in rural areas do not know any sanitary wear product hence there is need for us to go and educate them on how to use as them and dispose as it is another issue.
“Disposal is a pending issue which needs critical education as it can affect the future,he said.
In Zimbabwe availability of water remains a major challenge for menstruating girls and young women as they need a lot of water when they are on to wash themselves, clothes and some of the products they use.