NGO promotes menstrual hygiene in schools
Water for People has urged educators in the country to do more on menstruation and menstrual hygiene so that every girl-child knows what to do when they start menstruating.
Speaking at Chimwankhunda Primary School during the commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day in Blantyre Urban, Water for People country director Kate Harawa said menstruation is a part of every woman’s life, as such, it is important that the girl-child knows about it from a tender age.
“Education about menstruation should not be a secret anymore. Every girl-child should be taught at school about this to prepare them and enlighten them on how they can take care of themselves when having menstrual periods.
“The boy-child should also be educated that he has a role to play in ensuring that girls access the necessary menstrual hygiene facilities by not making fun of them in any way,” she said.
In her remarks, Blantyre Urban district education manager Evelyn Mjima echoed Harawa’s sentiments, saying gone are the days when menstruation used to be treated as a taboo and a lot of female students were absconding classes because of lack of proper facilities in their schools such as changing rooms.
Chisomo Msamba, a Standard Seven pupil at Chimwankhunda Primary School, commended Water for People for constructing a changing room that allows girls at the school the privacy they require during menstruation.
The changing room also has an incinerator for disposal of non-reusable sanitary products.
The Menstrual Hygiene Day was commemorated under the theme ‘Education about menstruation changes everything’. n
