Africa-Press – Malawi. The country’s Pad Plus an innovation that seeks to increase safe Menstrual Health Management (MHM) in schools recently engaged Education Minister Agnes Nyalonje in contributing towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4 and 5.
This comes as Malawi signed to the global goals (SDG) to accelerate development at country level, regional and global level. Pad Plus team leader Triza Chirwa told The Maravi Post after meeting the minister that the initiative aims at complementing government efforts to achieve SDG 3, 4 and 5.
“Malawi, poor menstrual health management for school girls has greatly contributed to absenteeism and poor academic performance. This to complement the government to achieve SDG 3,4 and 5 hence an initiative called Pad Plus was born.
“Studies have shown that girls miss school during their menses, especially when the school lacks WASH facilities necessary to maintain hygiene, ‘ Chirwa said
She added, “Since most of the schools, both primary and secondary do not have menstrual health first aid. Pad Plus program provides menstrual support to school girls with the purpose of helping them to overcome the effects of unsafe menstrual health management. We are doing this in order to help the girls achieve their dream and become a empowered in the process”.
Chirwa observes, “In most schools in Malawi, it is proved that lack of sufficiency knowledge on Menstrual Health Management issues is the major causes of all the common myths and challenges faced by school girls during their menstruation.
“Pad Plus program provides an educative platform as well as awareness on safe and proper usage of sanitary pads, period hygiene and educating them on how to handle themselves during messes”.
She said, “Girls are also equipped with requisite knowledge and abilities to take menstruation as a normal issue and always check their calendars to keep track on their menstruation to avoid embarrassment”.
Education Minister Nyalonje therefore lauded the initiative for the timely intervention safe menstrual health promotion. Nyalonje said, “The ministry acknowledges the hiccups and applauded in-state actors for complementing government’s efforts in ensuring that no one is left behind in development.
“This is in line with the agenda 2030 and also Malawi 2063 blue print which is youth-centric”. Through the Pad Plus program, pain killers are distributed, train and equip girls with necessary skills on how to make re-usable sanitary pads.
Furthermore the program also builds and renovates school toilets which to accommodate menstruating girls’ specific needs for privacy, space, washing facilities and correct disposal or cleaning of menstrual pads.
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