The Zambia Army Marine Ladies Club donated sanitary towels to girls at Ntenke Primary School in Kawambwa District. The donation came as a measure to improve hygiene among the teen aged girls in the district.
The Zambia women army officers, members of the Zambia Army Marine Ladies Club, and spouses of the male army officers put together the funds for the donation. Notably, the district chapter of the organization has been hailed for the donation.
Pascalina Mwape, Marine Ladies Club Chairperson, Warrant Officer Class II, revealed that that the club was inspired to make the donation in order to ease school attendance among the girl children during their menstrual periods.
Warrant Officer Mwape has highlighted the need for the donation for the school aged girls. She claimed that it should be considered unacceptable for girls to miss school because of hygiene. The organization has thus called on support to remedy the unavailability of sanitary towels.
“The club is committed to ensuring that efforts are made to end girl child absenteeism by keeping girls in school and for them to have continued access to education. One of these efforts is the provision of sanitary pads,” She said.
Acting school Head teacher, Patricia Yabe, expressed gratitude to the club noting that the donation of sanitary towels will help in reducing absenteeism among the girl child at the learning institution.
Head teacher Yabe urged the club to continue engaging in the fight against menstrual poverty, stating that most families, especially in rural setups, find challenges in affording sanitary towels for their girl child to attend school during their menstrual periods.
“On a daily basis there is a girl absent from school because they are attending and they cannot afford pads. The donation from the organization will allow them to be in school every time,” Ms Yabe said.
During the donation, the ladies had an interactive session with pupils on menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, how to use and dispose of pads, the significance of education and the dangers of early marriages and pregnancies.