By Virginia Njovo
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) Chief Executive Officer has called for stronger partnerships and sustained investment to improve menstrual health, describing it as a critical pillar of sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and national development.
Speaking at Zimbabwe’s first High-Level Menstrual Hygiene Management Symposium in Harare recently, the CEO applauded the organisers and partners for creating a platform to address menstrual health challenges affecting women and girls across the country.
He said menstruation is a natural biological process that plays a significant role in education, health, productivity, and overall wellbeing, adding that universal access to sexual and reproductive health cannot be achieved without ensuring universal access to menstrual health.
“Despite progress made in Zimbabwe, the stigma, misinformation, and inequality continue to affect many girls and women, with menstruation still contributing to school absenteeism, reduced confidence, and missed opportunities.”This is not only a health issue, but also a human rights, gender equality, education, and national development issue,” said Machinga.
Machinga highlighted four key reproductive health rights that he said were essential to advancing menstrual health.
“There four reproductive rights: the right to accurate and age-appropriate information, the right to privacy and dignity, the right to continuous access to essential services and menstrual products, and the right to equality and equity.
“Menstrual dignity extends beyond access to sanitary products, calling for improved water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in schools, workplaces, and communities. Affordable menstrual products, reliable supply chains, and comprehensive reproductive health education were also identified as critical components of an effective national response,” added Machinga.
He further stressed that investing in menstrual health is an investment in Zimbabwe’s future, urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure that every woman and girl can manage menstruation safely, confidently, and with dignity.
He stressed that investing in menstrual health is an investment in Zimbabwe’s future, urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure that every woman and girl can manage menstruation safely, confidently, and with dignity.
Speaking with TellZim News, Zimbabwe Performing Arts for Schools Trust founder Ticha Comfort Chivore, who has been advocating for Menstrual health in Masvingo and Zimbabwe at large, emphasized the same issue: for the girl child to be dignified, she needs three things, which include access, education, and support.
“First there is access to pads and Sanitary which must be affordable and available in schools and rural areas, no girl should miss class because of her period, second is education where boys parents and teachers needs to part of the conversations to eliminate menstrual stigma, expand menstrual health education, improve access to essential products and services, and ensure that no girl or woman is disadvantaged because of menstruation. Thirdly, the collaboration between government NGOs, schools, churches, and the private sector in making sure that the girl child and mothers are being dignified as well as accessing proper hygiene accessories,” said Chivore.
ZNFPC also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Government ministries, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to promote menstrual health and integrate it into national development priorities.
