PLAN URGES STAKEHOLDERS TO BE INNOVATIVE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST MENSTRUAL POVERTY

By Meclina Chirwa & Blessings Bomati 

Plan International Malawi has urged stakeholders to explore new ways of ending menstrual poverty which is high in the country.

Gender and Influencing Manager at the organization, Dr Mary Shaba, has said about 90% of girls and women in the country have no access to proper menstrual hygiene products.

She said organizations should focus on distributing reusable sanitary pads to school-going girls if the country is to end menstrual poverty.

According to Shaba, there should be an emphasis on the need for school-going girls to be using reusable sanitary pads.

Meanwhile it has been established that lack of proper menstrual hygiene health management in Mzimba East is hindering girls’ right to education.

The problem is reported to be grave in Thandazga and Kaswiti Communities where girls are facing a multitude of problems.

Citizen Impact Organisation (CIO) is one of the organisations that is targeting to teach marginalized girls how to make local reusable menstrual pads in order to reduce menstrual poverty among girls and reproductive women.

The project is targeting more than 200 girls in the area.

In an interview with Timveni, CIO Chief Executive Officer, Chimwemwe Banda, said the project wants to reach out to the girls in order to improve school attendance among girls and also create a conducive environment that can allow girls to perform well in class.