With support from The Hilden Charitable Fund, YICOD has distributed sewing machines and start-up materials for making reusable sanitary pads to five primary schools in the Dedza district. This initiative aims to help girls stay in school and avoid missing classes during their menstrual periods, as mothers' groups will sew sanitary pads and distribute them to the needy girls.
The schools that benefited from this five-day distribution exercise, conducted last week, include Kanyenda, Dedza Government, Mwatonga, Liphupwe, and Mlunduni.
Speaking after receiving the sewing machines and start-up materials, the headteacher of Mlunduni Primary School, Alex Phiri, applauded YICOD for the initiative, saying this will help keep girls in school and reduce the number of schoolgirls who do not attend or miss classes due to menstruation.
“Because of shyness, most girls do not come to school during their menstrual period. As you can see, this is a rural area where parents cannot afford to buy sanitary pads from the shops; hence, these machines and start-up materials will help many girls come to school and attend classes without problems,” he said.
On her part, the chairperson of the Kanyenda Primary School mothers' group, Agnes Sabiti, said they will ensure enough reusable sanitary pads are made for girls and that the group will make sure no girl misses school or classes due to menstruation.
“We are now empowered by what YICOD has done for us. It will be easy for us to promote girls' education, as no girl will claim she is unable to attend classes or go to school because of menstruation, since we will be providing reusable sanitary pads to them. We will ensure that all needy girls receive the pads,” she said.
Anisha Maxwell
In her remarks, 12-year-old Anisha Maxwell, who is in Standard Eight at Liphupwe Primary School, thanked YICOD for the support, saying it will improve menstrual hygiene among girls at their school.
“I would like to thank YICOD for the support, as this will help to improve our sanitation (girls) at this school,” she said.
YICOD’s Executive Director, Andrew Bwanali, emphasised that YICOD strives to make the learning environment favourable for everyone in the schools, hence this initiative, which he hopes will help keep girls in school.
“Menstrual hygiene is key to keeping girls in school; hence, we have distributed these sewing machines and start-up materials. Mothers' groups in all five schools have assured us that they will make use of them to produce sanitary pads that they will be distributing free of charge to needy girls.
“The machines will also help raise funds for the mothers' groups, as they will be making various items such as bags and uniforms, which they can sell to generate income to support this initiative of promoting girls' education by providing sanitary pads,” he said.
