With 81 percent of school going girls in Zambia missing
lessons during their monthly periods, there is need for
society to re-look at the issue of menstrual hygiene and
address it once and for all to give girls, especially those in
rural areas, a chance to compete on an equal footing with
boys and aspire to bigger positions in society.
This is a call
from the government.
This call has been re-echoed by National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Director General, Mr Yollard Kachinda.
Mr Kachinda
said the survey results revealed by the Young Women
Christian Association (YWCA) of girls missing school during
menses were alarming and needed to be addressed.
He
called for concerted effort from various stakeholders to
address the problem.
“This is why the National Pension
Scheme Authority has partnered with YWCA to support the
KOZO Girls project that has embarked on production of re-
usable sanitary towels for distribution to vulnerable school
going girls especially in rural areas. This morning NAPSA
donated electrical and manual sewing machines and
assorted fabric to the KOZO Girls project to support the
women in the mass production of re-usable sanitary towels.
“As part of the project, NAPSA will procure some of the
towels to distribute to girls across the country,” Mr Kachinda said.
The Director General also said that NAPSA had engaged
business partners to join in the effort to ensure that no
school going girl child stayed away from school because of
lack of safe and secure sanitary towels.
The DG reiterated that apart from promoting health and
hygiene, the project will help the girls to become self-
sustainable with the income realized from the sale of towels.
“This will result in a more empowered society because
women are pillars of development,” he said.
YWCA has appreciated the donation and new
partnership with NAPSA.
And YWCA National President, Mrs
Lucy Lungu said NAPSA was indeed a trusted partner that
protects people's future and brings pride to the nation.
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