Africa-Press – Lesotho. The First Lady, ‘Masekoalane Majoro has appealed to all relevant governing structures at the community level to join forces against early and forced marriage of young girls.
This she said while handing over 300 dignity kits from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to women and young girls at Linakeng, Ha Mothuntšane last week.
The dignity kits contained among others, sanitary towels, bath and face towels, teeth brushes, teeth pastes, sanitizers, bath and washing soaps and a bucket.
The First Lady thanked UNFPA for extending a helping hand. She further emphasized that when people are able to keep themselves clean, they are afforded their dignity.
“Research informs us that child marriage puts the girl child at risk more than almost any other practice.
From the medical point of view, young girls are not yet physically mature, so early sexual activity brings many threats of damage to their developing bodies.
Because of their age, young girls are scared to negotiate the use of contraceptives with their husbands and this puts them at a higher risk of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and diseases from their
older husbands,” Masekoalane informed. Speaking at the event, UNFPA Representative to Lesotho, Dr. Marc Derveeuw highlighted that women and girls are at the heart of UNFPA mandate as they work with different stakeholders to
respond to the needs of women and girls in drought affected communities, adding that this handover was a respond to such. He also expressed hope that the
dignity kits will go a long way in helping women and young girls, particularly during these difficult times of Covid-19. He put more emphasis on the rising
challenges facing women and young girls as a result of the pandemic, such as Gender Based Violence (GBV) and harmful practices including teenage pregnancies.
Dr. Derveew further indicated that UNFPA is cognizant of the challenges facing women and young girls as the commemoration of 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence was just
completed last week. The Chief of Ha Mothuntšane, Chief Mothuntšane Mothuntšane passed his heartfelt thanksgiving to UNFPA and the First Lady for remembering the youth from his village.
He also asked for electricity and water supply among other developments. On behalf of the beneficiaries, ‘Maletseka Nkotjo (31) thanked the UNFPA and all who helped to make the event a
success. She said they struggle a lot to meet their menstrual hygiene needs as they sometimes end up using garments but from this event onwards, they will be clean, dignified women.
Present at the occasion were: Member of Parliament (MP) for Qalo constituency Hon. Thabang Kholumo, Butha-Buthe District Administrator (DA) Lehlohonolo Qhasho, District Emergency Operations Centre Officer Khethollo Lekoane and the Linakeng area Councilors
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