The ManicaPost
ON May 28 every year since 2014, Menstrual Hygiene Day has been commemorated around the world with women’s rights activists breaking the silence around menstrual periods and tackling the stigma associated with them.
This is indeed a worthy initiative as it raises awareness on the importance of menstrual hygiene, which cannot be separated from sexual reproductive health. Due to this interconnectivity, slackening on menstrual health could see the country taking the knock on other health components.
May 28 has a symbolic meaning. May is the fifth month of the year, and the average length of menstruation is five days every month. Also, the menstrual cycle averages 28 days.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is a chance to empower women and girls to manage their periods safely, hygienically, with confidence and without embarrassment. We should live in a world where no woman or girl is limited by something as natural and normal as menstruating.
Menstruation is a subject that is still considered taboo in most families. It is difficult to discuss it openly. Although the Government and several development partners are doing what they can to end the stigma and eradicate period poverty, there is still a long way to go.
Creating a culture that welcomes discussion around menstruation is of paramount importance as this will grant access to information about the normal functions of the female body.
This will have a positive impact on women’s health, education and dignity. Most importantly, men also need to be brought into the conversation so that they can help tackle the stigma in largely patriarchal societies and encourage women and girls to embrace their cycle with pride.
According to online sources, approximately 300 million women are menstruating at any given time, this means that one in seven women you speak to, at any given time, is menstruating.
These statistics bring to the fore just how natural menstruation is; how it has the potential to cripple women and girls’ lives if they are not equipped with adequate sanitary wear to make themselves comfortable during those monthly cycles.
Unfortunately in many parts of the world, Zimbabwe included, monthly periods can stop girls from living normal lives. Women’s choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by the costs. The unavailability of clean water and ablution facilities also makes menstrual periods more uncomfortable.
Adequate sanitation facilities and access to menstrual hygiene products are therefore part of the solution. The right to manage menstruation without shame or stigma is also essential for anyone who menstruates.
But for too many, that is sadly not the reality.
Without sanitary towels, women and girls are forced to use improvised methods to manage their periods, including torn pieces of clothing and rags, which can cause painful infections.
This year’s global theme for Menstrual Hygiene Day is ‘Stepping up action and investing in menstrual health and hygiene’.
Indeed, the time to take some action and make menstruating women and girls more comfortable is now.
In Zimbabwe, a lot of efforts are being made to address this. In 2019, the Government scrapped import duty on sanitary wear in an effort to make menstrual hygiene products more affordable.
In addition, a budget of $200 million was availed through the Ministry of Primary and secondary Education to cater for the provision of sanitary wear for school girls.
The Government has since started procuring and distributing sanitary ware to primary and secondary school girls. First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa also distributed reusable pads to girls from across the country and trained them on how to make the pads. Several development partners have been distributing disposable pads to enable girls and young women to continue their periods with dignity.
Sista2Sista clubs, for example, have also stepped in to support young girls to prepare and manage their menstrual health. Girls in the clubs learn about sexual and reproductive health and rights, including menstrual health management.
By availing one pad at a time, we will surely end period poverty.
