Johannesburg – Girl learners from schools around Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, will no longer have to stay away from school during their menstruation, thanks to the launch of the Sanitary Pads Project.
Communications Deputy Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams launched the project in Sandton this morning.
According to Proudly South Africa, one of the partners in the project, it is believed that up to nine million young girls aged between 13 and 19 miss up to a week of school due to the lack of sanitary products.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams said there is a need for young girls to be taught about their bodies.
“As young girls, they need to be taught about their bodies and to appreciate their bodies. Teachers have a crucial role to play to ensure that girls are empowered,” she said.
Deputy Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams said young girls should be encouraged to dream big and stand up for their rights.
“Women have an important role to play in every community, therefore their rights must be protected,” she said.
In a bid to end absenteeism, Proudly South Africa, Proctor and Gamble (P &G) and Sun International took on the project, which aims to restore the dignity of young girls by distributing sanitary products to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds across the country.
As the manufacturers of sanitary products, P&G currently distribute sanitary products to young girls throughout the country.
A learner from Minerva Secondary School in Alexandra, Jennifer Mathe, told SAnews the project was much needed relief.
“When that time comes, I always encounter problems because I cannot afford to buy sanitary products.
“The launch of the project has brought some relief to me and to other girls, who were experiencing the same problem,” she said.
According to the organisers of the project, over 100 000 girls will be assisted with sanitary products.
The event was attended by, among others, radio and TV personalities. – SAnews.gov.za
