By Draxon Maloya
Malawi (News of The South) – Minister of Gender Children and Women Affairs, Patricia Kaliyati has called on all development partners in the education sector to ensure availability of water at all learning institutions which will mitigate challenges the Girl-child faces when going through menstruation period.
Kaliyati was speaking in a special radio panel discussion program in commemoration of this year’s World Menstrual-Hygiene Day.
The Minister said it is very sad that even some schools constructed in the recent past have no indication or any assurance of water provision a situation which she says is prividing unfriendly environment for a Girl-child to continue with school during menstrual cycles.
“Let me make an appeal to all our development partners in the education sector to ensure availability of water at all education institutions if our Girl-child is not to be deprived of her right to education when completing her menstrual cycles, water is life,” Kaliyati emphasized.
She further said Menstrual-Hygiene have far-reaching negative impact on the lives of women and girls restricting their mobility, freedom and choices affecting attendance and participation in school and Community life, compromising their safety and causing stress and anxiety.
Commenting on this year’s commemoration of the day, Executive Director for Purple Innovations for Girls and Women, Patricia Mtungira conquered with the Minister saying water guarantee girl’s school life even during menstrual periods.
“There is indeed a great need for water to be available at all learning institutions, let us make the provision of water even if it is pumping it using generators powered up by solar gadgets, menstrual cycles should not distract our girls in school,” Mtungira said.
Mtungira then pleaded for more support and programs towards raising awareness on the challenges women and girls worldwide faces due to menstruation while highlighting solutions to address the challenges.
A standard 8 girl at Chiputula Primary school in Mzuzu City, Eunice Moyo pleaded with the authorities to consider removing tax on materials used in the manufacturing of sanitary pads which she said are not affordable mainly to girls living in remort areas of the country.
Many countries across the world have for the past five years have commemorated the day with the theme thought “A milestone in our efforts to raise awareness on Menstrual-Hygiene investment in adolescent girl’s well-being yield tripple dividends for those girls, for the women they will become and for the next generation”
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