Menstrual health for deaf women in Zimbabwe

The experiences shared by Deaf women and girls during previous menstrual health interventions, together with findings from the SRHR evaluation, have continued to highlight the importance of consistent access to menstrual hygiene products and practical menstrual health information. As part of these ongoing efforts, Nzeve reached 23 Deaf girls from Sanganai Club, providing sanitary pads including  reusable pads, and a bar of green soap to each deaf women.

The support was designed not only to meet the girls’ immediate menstrual hygiene needs, but also to provide a reusable option that can continue supporting them beyond the current distribution. The green soap was provided alongside the reusable pads to enable the girls to wash and maintain them properly after use.

The continued engagement also provided an opportunity to reinforce menstrual hygiene practices, including regular changing of sanitary products, personal hygiene, and the correct washing, drying, and storage of reusable pads. Communicating these messages in an accessible manner remains important, as Deaf girls may face challenges accessing menstrual health information through conventional channels.

Through this continued support, the girls are able to access menstrual hygiene products while gaining practical knowledge that can help them manage their periods more confidently and hygienically. The reusable pads further offer a longer-term option that can help reduce the recurring cost of purchasing sanitary products.

Nzeve remains committed to strengthening menstrual health support for Deaf girls and this is only possible because of supporting donors.