Sanitary pads keep girls in school

The theme of this year's World Menstruation Day, celebrated for the 4th time since 2014, is "Education about menstruation changes everything". Women for Water Partnership member TGNP Mtandao pro-actively implements this message in its activities in Tanzania where it this year took action to prevent girls from missing out on education during their menstruation periods by ensuring sanitary pads are available in schools.

TGNP educated women MPs of all political parties on the link between the high absentee rate of girls in schools and the lack of menstrual hygiene products. For many girls the cost of sanitary pads are so high they are unaffordable. Without access to sanitary products girls don’t go to school on average 5 days each month, when they are menstruating.

The deputy speaker of the national assembly of Tanzania, Hon Dr Tulia Ackson, participated in the TGNP education session and has pledged "to solve the problem starting by setting tax charges that will be allocated to cover the expense of having sanitary pads in schools". “Having the pads is one thing but we need to ensure the coming budget looks on the availability of water in schools ensuring a better hygiene for girls” she added.

TGNP is furthermore advocating for schools having a special teacher and exchanging room for girls to help them during the monthly cycle days. "That will set a comfortable environment for girls to study peacefully".