By Saliwe Mutetwa-Zakariya | Director
During this reporting period, Talia Women's Network partnered with CBZ Holdings, a financial institution, to distribute dignity kits comprising of reusable sanitary pads to 625 girls from Kandeya Secondary School and Mutumba High School in Mt. Darwin district in Mashonaland Central Province to alleviate the problem of period poverty among the girls residing mostly in rural communities in Zimbabwe.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic era, the province recorded a significant increase in school drop outs due to teen and unwanted pregnancies as well as early and child marriages. There is limited access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services, particulalry for adolescent girls and young women. Culturally SRHR issues are seldom discussed at family level and this role is left mostly for the schools. These girls do not have health seeking behaviours and fear visiting healthcare facilites for fear of victimisation and a general lack of confidentiality for their issues.
The menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) outreaches at the two schools were held in partnership with CBZ Holdings. During these sessions the girls were trained on basic hygiene matters and how to use the reusable pads they received. The training also addressed SRHR issues and identified people and places where the girls could go for help. They were encouraged to prioritise their education over early sexual debut and were encouraged not to fall for peer pressure. The training also gave the girls career guidance and exposed them to careers that are not popular among rural schools.
CBZ Holdings demonstrated that they live up to their reputation of being partners for success.
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