Maria David
GIRLS are less likely to drop out of school when they have access to safe, affordable sanitary products to manage their periods.
Thus, promoting menstrual health and hygiene is an important means for safeguarding girls and women’s dignity, privacy, bodily integrity and, consequently, their self-efficacy.
Since its inception in 2022, the “I got your back my sister” project has helped over 300 learners in the Okalongo area alone and continues to do so.
According to the project’s founder, Tim Martins, their effort was started with the intention of keeping girls in school throughout their menstrual cycle.
“Reduce the amount of girls dropping out of school due to inadequate menstrual care,” he said.
He said that in order to keep a girl child in school, they intend to solve the issue by providing one pad at a time.
According to Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services, many girls continue to miss out on education despite the availability of free basic education due to absenteeism that is associated with reproductive health issues. This is often because some girls are compelled to stay away from school when they do not have the means to manage their menstruation.
He claimed that, because menstruation is taboo in society, women and girls who experience it are stigmatized and seen as weak.
The topic is rarely openly discussed in families, classrooms or the general public.
Additionally, Shangula said that they are aware that some girls have been controlling their menstrual flow by utilizing unclean items like ripped pieces of clothing or other readily available materials.
Shangula explained that it is their responsibility to safeguard the female child’s dignity and their health by taking all necessary steps to provide them with the assistance they require.
