Providing Sustainable Menstrual Health Solutions to Keep Girls in School.

 

70% of adolescent girls in Eswatini lack proper access to menstrual health (MH) education and resources as more than half of the Swazi population live under the poverty line. This causes restrictions in their daily life. Girls face numerous barriers to access safe and healthy menstrual products and education causing effects consistent with multiple levels of the socio-ecological model. At individual level, they are largely unaware of menstruation prior to menarche, leaving them unprepared for the experience, at family as well as social level; menstruation is stigmatized and at institutional level, they experience menstruation-related shame, embarrassment, and many schools have inadequate bathroom facilities.

Poor menstrual hygiene leads to urinary or reproductive tract infections and affects the well-being of students. Girls do not attend school during their period due to fear of bullied which is a result of stigma around menstruation, inadequate toilet facilities and lack of access to menstrual products. Lack of privacy and inadequate toilet doors or cubicles pose a challenge for menstrual health management.

Period Poverty poses long-life effects to our girls, the inaccessibility of menstrual pads puts girls in disadvantageous situations. Lack of affordability of sanitary pads, results to adolescent girls seeking alternative ways to obtain them. Some affiliate in transactional sex with men who sexually exploit them, this cycle perpetuates teenage pregnancies, early marriages, HIV/AIDS infections, and abuse, further entrenching poverty.

                                         

Sustainable Menstrual Health solutions:

Adequate menstrual hygiene facilities with free hygiene products and timely education for boys and girls on menstrual health are crucial school interventions to ensure health, well-being and equal learning opportunities.  Addressing menstrual health is crucial for keeping girls in school and ensuring they can continue their education without interruption. Here activities DfG takes on to fight period poverty.

 

1. Menstrual Health Education:                                                                       
Days for Girls visits schools, communities and churches to give accurate menstrual health education to girls as well as boys in order for them to be supporters of menstruators. Our sessions help women and girls to feel more confident about managing their period, girls and boys, are empowered with knowledge about how their bodies work and communities adopt positive attitudes about menstruation, ending shame and stigma around menstruation and puberty.
                                                        

2.Distribution of Washable Sanitary Pad.

Days for Girls (DfG) distributes the DfG washable, reusable, beautiful menstrual sanitary pad to women and girls in schools, communities and churches around Eswatini. It is sewn by 23 women from different communities around Eswatini which helps improves livelihoods and empower women by promoting financial independence. Our patented design, which includes a protective shield and absorbent liner to make it reliable and for the girl child to manage her period with dignity. It is truly a sustainable solution for girls that do not afford to buy sanitary pads every month as it can last for up to three years.

                                                    

Menstrual Health is a matter of human rights. Menstruators deserve affordable, accessible menstrual products and menstrual friendly environments. Days for Girls provides sustainable menstrual solutions to end period poverty in our lifetime. Proper menstrual health management is a critical component of promoting gender equity and ensuring women and girls reach their greatest potential because SHE is Worth It!