By OBAKENG MAJE
The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said, he will continue to wage a war against ‘periods poverty’, especially in schools.
This comes after Gaoraelwe’s office, donated over 2 400 sanitary pads to various schools across Taung through the ‘Keep A Girl Child in School’ initiative.
He said the lack of sanitary pads makes it difficult for girls to attend school. It is estimated that 3 out of 10 girls in South Africa miss school during their periods each month.
“We have donated 2 400 sanitary pads to seven different schools across Taung. As the municipality, we were assisted by the North West Department of Education and Social Development for school identification purposes.
“We have realised that, there is a need for this initiative after disturbing reports of female learners’ absenteeism in schools due to poor access to sanitary products. Most of them cite lack of sanitary pads as a reason for their absenteeism.
“The initiative emanates from the GTLM mayoral cup event, where we have requested all affiliated teams to donate a bulk of sanitary pads as registration for the event. This will be an annual initiative and remember, lack of sanitary pads sometimes forces girls to use unhygienic materials, while others decide to stay at home,” he said.
The Tamasikwa Secondary School principal, Kenalemang Lehihi applauded the municipality. Lehihi said the intervention will reduce the burden of menstruation for school girls.
“We are very happy and fortunate enough to receive sanitary pads from the municipality. This will assist learners to concentrate, because just last week Friday, we had a Grade 12 learner, who was absent from school because she had no sanitary pads.
“I have also received a call from Chabalala Optometrist, where they commit to donating sanitary pads to the school too. So, we need to work together in ensuring that periods poverty is alleviated,” she said.
One of the learners who benefitted from this initiative, Tshepiso Selebogo (16) said: “I feel honoured to receive sanitary pads because some of us come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I stay with my grandmother because my parents stay in Choseng village, near Pudimoe,” she said.
A Grade 12 learner, Nametsang Tshipenyane (17), who also received the sanitary pads shared the same sentiments. Tshipenyane said, this initiative will come in handy and assist many learners, who sometimes miss school because of poor access to sanitary pads.
Meanwhile, Dr Marlin McKay, a medical healthcare practitioner and owner of Goldman Medicine Centre, who has over 28 years of experience in the private family practice told Parents24 that, access to sanitary towels is critical because having a period without sanitary towels at school can impact the girl’s long term social and economic activities.
“Lack of sanitary pads can also force girls to use unhygienic material such as cow dung, leaves, newspaper, and dirty cloth. We need to acknowledge that menstruation is a natural and biological function that people did not choose to have to happen to their bodies.
“Thus society must ensure that girls, women, and menstruators can experience their periods with dignity. If we do not ensure that ‘period poverty’ is ended, we will be perpetuating a culture of silence that forces many to cope in isolation,” she highlighted.
The Guardian 