Masvingo in menstrual hygiene and health drive

By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu

Masvingo – Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) has called for demystification of myths surrounding menstruation.

A provincial dialogue meeting organised by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council was held Friday, under the theme, ‘Taking action by investing in menstrual health and hygiene, MHM’ at the Chevron Hotel.

This comes as ZNFPC prepares for its Menstrual Hygiene and Health day commemorations held annually on the 28th of May.

Speaking at the meeting, the religious sector was urged to play its role in amplifying the issue of menstrual hygiene as there is still an evident gap.

Zimbabwe Churches Council representative, Dorothy Chikwature said, “churches must be open and teach these issues though there is still a gap in information dissemination, not only are issues to do with fornication should be taught in the church but issues of menstruation. The lack of information on menstrual hygiene and health has led to the girl child being abused in the name of curing period pains.

“Fathers too need to be taught about these issues because we have families’ being headed by fathers only. We should shun away cultural issues surrounding menstrual hygiene. Such issue should be discussed everywhere and people should know as it is a reality we are living with. On the same issue sanitary wear must be affordable and even free, why do we continue to have condoms for free, not every girl can afford to have sanitary wear and this has affected the well being of the girl child.”

One student present at the meeting said, “the pressing issue is of sanitary wear, l stay in the urban areas but sanitary wear is expensive for me, what of those in the rural areas will they be able to afford the sanitary wear. These are issues that need to be considered by many. Lots of girls miss school because of this.”

Speaking at the meeting, ZNFPC provincial marketing and communications officer, Herbert Chikosi he said there was need for government to come up with a Menstrual Hygiene Management policy.