…Supporting girls with re-usable sanitary pads

A Zomba based well-wisher Chifundo Chatonda on Friday donated re-usable sanitary pads to 160 girls at Nsala Community Day secondary school in Traditional Authority Chikowi, Zomba.

Speaking after making the donation, Chatonda observed that many adolescent girls tend to miss classes during their menstrual periods for fear of being subjected to mockery.

She said: “this donation which is being done courtesy of ‘Msambo uphweke campaign’ complements efforts being done by different organisations in promoting girl’s hygiene among the vulnerable community by providing them with re-usable sanitary pads mainly to the girls who tend to be absent from school during their menstruation and probably have no enough money or no money at all to buy sanitary pads.”

Chatonda hands over re-usable sanitary pad to form three student

She then pledged to continue investing much of her interest, time and resources towards the initiative to benefit more school going girls.

In his remarks, Nsala Community Day Secondary School head teacher Andrew Tsoka hailed the initiative.

“Sometime back, Nsala Mother groups brought them re-usable pads at a cost of K1000 each but students did not buy them because they could not afford to purchase them. It has been two years now since the sanitary pads were left at the office.

“With this donation, I believe the girls will feel safe using the free pads and absenteeism from class will be reduced,” he said.

On cloud nine: Girls celebrate upon receiving the donation

In a separate interview, Form one student, Rehema Chibwana said the re- usable sanitary pads would therefore allow the them to live comfortably and also make themselves more confident to stay in school.

“With these washable pads, they will give me unimaginable comfort when I am on period such that I will be able to attend classes without any worry,” she said.

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report released in 2016 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 per cent of a given school year.

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