The Church moves to end menstrual poverty

THIRTY-YEAR-OLD Dorcas Saukani from Dzivaresekwa in Harare has a sad but true story that affects mostly girls from marginalised communities when they have their periods.

She suffered emotionally and physically from the poverty associated with the lack of sanitary clothing for girls.

“My first period came when I was 12. I told my older sister, who then told my stepmother and aunt, but they didn’t do anything,” Saukani said.

“My sister had no choice but to take responsibility. She was 14 years old and advised me to tear off my old dress in strips to use as sanitary pads.”

“I came up with a plan to wrap the clothes and stop them from leaking, but it only worked for a day or two. By the end of the cycle, I couldn’t even walk properly. I was in pain from the heat of the plastic and the blood.

“I also remember standing during all the lessons in class so as not to ruin my uniform after wearing a plastic that left my genitals bruised and sore.”

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Saukani is one of the statistics of period poverty affecting girls and women in Zimbabwe and around the world.

According to the United Nations Population Fund for Zimbabwe, menstrual poverty is the inability to afford menstrual supplies, including sanitary pads, tampons, medications or underwear, which can lead to infections.

Christ Foundation Ministries International is one such organisation fighting menstrual poverty through awareness campaigns in the slums of Harare.

“I decided to take part in the campaign so that I could help underprivileged girls who might be going through what I also went through. I believe that no girl should suffer simply because of a call of nature,” Saukani said.

“As part of the campaign, my goal is to make sure that every girl receives sanitary clothing to wear every month and knows how to take care of herself during her cycle.”

Sunungurai Chingarande, director of Doxa Ladies Ministries, a women’s department of Christ Foundation Ministries International, says they launched the “No to Menstrual Poverty” campaign to promote menstrual hygiene among girls.

Chingarande grew up in Gokwe and is a professor of sociology at a local university.

“Our campaign focuses on menstrual hygiene, providing sanitary pads to disadvantaged women and girls, as well as teaching them about menstrual hygiene.

“It is based on personal experiences shared by women and girls in our church. Promoting menstrual health and hygiene protects women’s dignity, privacy, bodily integrity and self-efficacy,” Chingarande said.

“It is an ongoing initiative. When supplies run out, we replenish them. We have representatives in Epworth who underprivileged girls go to for supplies. Also, as a department of the church, we have made sure that a contact person keeps sanitary pads for women and girls who have emergencies when they come to church programs.

“Our campaign against period poverty will target girls in Mabvuku, Tafara and Eastview.

“Our aim is to bring dignity to disadvantaged girls and ensure that through this initiative as a church, we contribute to improving girls’ school attendance, ultimately complementing the government’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal number 4 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all and Sustainable Development Goal number 5 on achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.”

According to a study by SNV Zimbabwe, 72% of menstruating schoolgirls do not use sanitary products because they cannot afford them. The study also showed that 62% of Zimbabwean schoolgirls miss school every month due to lack of sanitary pads and 70% of these girls do not know any sanitary pad brands on the market.

“Menstrual poverty is real in Zimbabwe, the biggest barrier to sanitary pad use is affordability. A woman with a heavy flow will need about $3 a month to buy sanitary pads, which is difficult for some girls given the current economic conditions,” said Chingarande.

“It creates a safe space for women and girls to share personal experiences, learn from each other, receive teachings and advice, mentoring, pray, network, and more.”

In Zimbabwe, more than three million women and girls menstruate and most of them do not have adequate and sufficient menstrual protection.