Sanitary Pads Archives

Inconsistencies Surround Zimbabwe’s US$12.4 Million Free Sanitary Wear Initiative

April 25, 2022 Michael Gwarisa

…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…

When Period Poverty Meets Water Crises: Harare Women and Girls Develop Vaginal Infections As They Go For Hours Wearing Damp Unwashed Reusable Sanitary Pads And Rags

March 19, 2021March 21, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

SHARON Bumhira (26) from Hopley, Zone 3 is unemployed and every month, whenever her period visits, she finds it difficult to manage her menstrual hygiene as she can’t afford to buy sanitary pads. Like many girls in the area, Sharon uses rags and at times a reusable sanitary pad. By Michael Gwarisa For most girls and young women in Hopely, buying sanitary pads is a luxury they can’t even afford and a bucket of water is more important than buying a sanitary pad. The water situation in Hopely has made…

Calls For Free Sanitary Pads Mount

May 28, 2019October 29, 2019 NewsRoom

CALLS for government to provide free sanitary pads for Zimbabwean young girls grow at a time they are still beyond the reach of many. By Kudakwashe Pembere Despite government announcing its plans to introduce this much needed initiative, organisations dealing with menstrual health feel much can be done to improve the lives of girls. Sanitary pads are a very critical component for women and girls reproductive health requirements but owing to their exorbitant cost, most are having to look for alternatives some of which could have undesirable after effects in the long run.…

Health Gets US$694 million

November 22, 2018November 23, 2018 NewsRoom

TREASURY on Thursday allocated US$694, 5 million to the Ministry of Health and Childcare in the 2019 National Budget. By Kudakwashe Pembere In January, former minister of Finance and Economic Development Patrick Chinamasa buckled under the pressure of legislators to increase the allocation for Health to US$520 million from US$454 million. The Health Ministry during a Health and Childcare parliamentary portfolio committee hearing expected an allocation of US$1, 3 billion from the ‘National Purse’. Making his debut 2019 National Budget presentation, Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube increased the Health budget…

Demystifying Menstrual Cups…Even Virgins Can Use Them

July 2, 2018July 2, 2018 NewsRoom

THE pricing of menstrual ware such as sanitary pads, tampons, pant liners among others has reached astronomical levels in Zimbabwe resulting in some vulnerable girls and women losing productive hours as they have to bunk school lessons and working hours. By Michael Gwarisa Owing to foreign currency shortages, sanitary ware manufactures are finding it difficult to import raw materials to manufacture pads amongst a host other stuff. A pack of 10 sanitary pads costs not less than $1 or $2 depending on where one would have bought them. However, did…

Parliament Pushes For Command Sanitary Pads Production

January 10, 2018 NewsRoom

LEGISLATORS have called for command sanitary pads production in a bid to avert the prevailing crisis which has been exacerbated by the recent prices increases of sanitary products due to foreign currency shortages. By Michael Gwarisa Contributing to a motion raised by Honorable Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga in the National Assembly, Pelandaba-Mpopoma legislator Joseph Tshuma said sanitary pads availability should match that of condoms and priority must be given to the girl child to menstruate with dignity. “As much as other people have said that if you visit the toilet you…

Sanitary Pads Crisis To Worsen… As Big Local Manufacturer Farai, Faces Closure

November 8, 2017 NewsRoom

ONSDALE Enterprises, one of the country’s major sanitary wear manufacturers is on the verge of shutting down ― and sending 140 workers home ― due to the shortage of foreign currency to import raw materials, a company executive has said. Company closures continue to drive Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate, estimated by independent economists to be about 90 percent, higher. A Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) manufacturing sector survey published last week, in partnership with The Financial Gazette, showed that about 30 percent of firms in the sector were on the brink of collapse…

Foreign Currency Shortages Push Sanitary Pads Prices Up- Manufacturers

October 28, 2017October 28, 2017 NewsRoom

By Daniel Phiri LOCAL sanitary wear manufacturers have blamed the prevailing foreign currency shortages and increases in raw materials prices for the astronomical increase in Sanitary pads and wear prices. In Zimbabwe there are currently two companies that manufacture sanitary pads, Onsdale (Farai sanitary pads) and Refreshing Sanitary Pads (Happy Sky pads). In an interview, Refreshing Sanitary Pads general manager Collen Sakala said the price increase is beyond their control as they are responding to economic factors obtaining on the local and international markets. “The increase was necessitated by an…

Sanitary Pads Prices Increase

October 24, 2017October 24, 2017 NewsRoom

SOURCE: The DailyNews The Price of Sanitary wear has shot through the roof despite the fact that importers of raw materials used to manufacture them are not paying any duty at the ports of entry. Beginning this year, government scrapped duty on sanitary wear raw materials to make the products affordable following a strong push by legislators. [pullquote]A survey by DailyNews revealed however that pads that were fetching around $0.89c have now gone up in prices to as up by as much as 124 percent to $1.99. [/pullquote] Other sanitary…

Free Sanitary Pads For Zim Women…As Government Contracts Local Manufacturer

October 13, 2017 NewsRoom

By Daniel Phiri WOMEN’S Affairs, Gender and Community Development Ministry says it is has contracted two companies in the country to manufacture sanitary pads that will be distributed for free or sold at low cost. Sanitary pads are a very critical component for women and girls reproductive health requirements but owing to their exorbitant cost, most are having to look for alternatives some of which could have after effects in the long run. Rural women and girls are said to be the most affected to the extent that some of…