By Ratidzo Njagu
28 May 2021 marks International Menstrual Hygiene Day. This occasion provides a fantastic opportunity to educate and inform on menstrual health management but also an opportunity for us to address the ongoing issue of period poverty. According to the United Nations, period poverty is defined as difficulty experienced by girls and women in managing menstruation in a safe, sanitary and affordable manner. When explored in greater detail it is effectively the lack of access to education on menstrual health and hygiene, as well as a lack of access to sanitary products, toilets, handwashing facilities, and, or, waste management.
All women and girls should be able to manage their menstrual hygiene safely, without financial strain, and with a sense of dignity. Globally over 800 million people menstruate daily. In Zimbabwe, according to the World Bank 2019 Report, over 52% of the population are female. We can therefore expect that the majority of these have already or will menstruate in their lifetime. A 2017 report by Plan International (Counting the Invisible: Girls’ rights and realities ) established that 5% of Zimbabwean girls drop out of school because of menstruation. In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, period poverty is on the rise. With growing financial constraints on families, girls are increasingly dropping out of school. Over time this results in generations of women not having completed their education, failing to secure jobs in the formal sector, and making up a majority of both the informally employed and the unemployed populations. As a result women and girls continue to remain the most economically vulnerable in our society.
Our vision at Kunashe Foundation is to provide menstrual health information and related access to sustainable sanitary wear for all girls and women. We inform on menstrual health management as well as advocate the use of sustainable sanitary options which include menstrual cups, reusable pads & period pants. All women and girls should have a chance to experience safe and comfortable periods with a sense of dignity. As we celebrate Menstrual health and hygiene day, we believe that little by little, everyone can play a role to effectively contribute towards ending period poverty. As we destigmatize, normalize and begin to support the women in our communities, we can break the cycle of period poverty which continues to prevent girls from going to school and as a consequence keeps women from actively participating in the economy. Every woman deserves a chance to become the very best version of herself.
For more menstrual health information or to support us visit www.kunashefoundation.org email: info@kunashefoundation.org
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