At least 100 girls at Nankhundi Primary School in Chiradzulu have received menstrual health and hygiene kits to help address menstruation-related challenges and improve school attendance.
Campaign for Health Education, Sanitation and Hygiene (CAHESH) in collaboration with SICPA Malawi, donated the kits to the girls on Friday during a ceremony held at the school under the theme “Menstrual Hygiene, Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness”.
CAHESH Executive Director, MacDonald Kalua, said they chose Nankhundi because it is among schools in Chiradzulu where adolescent girls miss classes or drop out due to challenges associated with menstruation.
“Some girls miss classes particularly due to lack of sanitary pads and other essential materials. Therefore, this donation will help improve school attendance among adolescent girls,” he said.
Chiradzulu District Council Chief Education Officer, Rashid Lawe, described the donation as timely, saying lack of sanitary pads affects girls’ concentration and attendance thereby contributing to poor academic performance.
“When girls lack sanitary pads, they miss classes and this affects their performance,” Lawe said.
He said many girls in Chiradzulu come from economically disadvantaged households and cannot afford sanitary pads. Lawe, therefore, appealed to more organisations to support learners with menstrual health and hygiene materials.
“We have many learners who need this support. We hope other organisations will also provide menstrual health and hygiene materials to help improve girls’ education in Chiradzulu,” he said.
SICPA Malawi Logistics Manager and Sustainability Lead, Chipulutso Bakali, said the company supported the initiative because it recognises the need to address challenges affecting girls’ school attendance while promoting environmental sustainability.
“We felt this would be a good way of supporting girls. The sanitary pads we have donated are reusable, which makes them environmentally friendly and aligns with our commitment to sustainability,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, 16-year-old Delilah Chinthenga, a Standard Seven learner at the school, said the donation will help her remain in class during menstruation.
“Sometimes I failed to attend classes due to lack of sanitary pads. The donation is ideal and will enable me to continue attending classes when I would otherwise miss them,” she said.
Each kit comprised a bar of soap, plastic bucket, four reusable sanitary pads and an underwear. The beneficiaries also received training on the proper use and care of the sanitary pads.
Additionally, the girls received information on breast and cervical cancer prevention, including awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and the importance of avoiding early sexual activity.
Nankhundi Primary School has 1,766 learners, comprising 876 girls and 888 boys.
