A dialogue with school girls

Talking publicly about women's menstruation in general has long been taboo, especially in African homes. This week, The Zone spoke to five girls from A. Shipena and Acacia high schools to find out what the conditions at their schools and communities are regarding the access to sanitary pads among school girls. Victoria !Nau-Gawases, a pupil from A. Shipena Secondary School, shared that menstruation cycle in general plays a role in the academic performance of girls to a certain extent – although not entirely. “The discomfort alone that comes with being on your period deters you from fully concentrating in class,” !Nau-Gawases said. She explained that girls sometimes are forced to skip classes because they do not have sanitary pads. Due to the lack of sanitary pads, !Nau-Gawases said that sometimes girls resort to using unsanitary and sometimes unsafe measures such as toilet paper and creating makeshift pads from old clothes because they cannot afford the correct product. “This too, poses a health hazard because there might be germs on these makeshift pads from old clothes that we use instead of pads,” she said. !Nau-Gawases also added that using toilet paper or sometimes even handkerchiefs is really uncomfortable because these alternatives do not hold blood for a long period of time, thus leaking is easy. “This means girls cannot concentrate in class because they are worried of soiling their uniform and being made fun of by boys in class,” she said. !Nau-Gawases also explained that in communities with a lot of low-income families, girls and women often lack the access to sanitary pads, and the consequences they endure as a result have only recently begun to receive serious attention.Describing the condition at her school regarding access to sanitary pads, Olivia Mwetuhanga, 16, also from A. Shipena, shared that at her school their Life Skills teacher does talk to them about sanitary pads but not as often as they do teach them about HIV and Aids and the use of condoms. “Although we are taught about these things, we do not really talk about sanitary pads among ourselves more often because a lot of girls consider it to be private,” Mwetuhanga said. Mwetuhanga proposed that boys should be taught to understand that the menstruation circle is a natural process that happens to every girl and thus they should not make fun of girls when they are on their period. “Sometimes girls stay at home not because they do not have pads but because boys make fun of them and sometimes other girls also gossip about them,” said Mwetuhanga.Consolatha Uiras also from A. Shipena said that the issue of girls using clothes and toilet paper is not only a problem at her school, but a lot of girls who cannot afford sanitary pads generally resort to the same alternatives. Uiras recommends that schools should start warning girls about the dangers of using toilet paper and clothes, suggesting that schools should put aside money for sanitary pads from their annual grants that they receive from the government. “Instead of sending girls home when they are on their period, schools can provide these girls with sanitary pads so that girls do not miss classes because of not having sanitary pads,” Uiras said. She added that just like there are free condoms, sanitary pads should also be distributed for free especially to school-going girls. “We cannot continue having girls missing classes because of not having sanitary pads,” she said.Uiras applauds her teachers for all they do to help girls during their mensuration cycle, but condemns teachers sending girls home when they are on their period, maintaining that anything can happen to a girl when she has to walk home alone. “I understand that you are looking out for us, but as teachers you are entrusted to take care of us until 13:00. Sending us home is not a good solution because a girl can get raped on her way home alone,” she said. Uiras says there are learners that have to walk as far as Babylon and One Nation and are thus walking long distances when they are on their period worsens the pain.On the other hand Vickey (not her real name) from Acacia High School shared that at her school Life Science and Life Skills teachers do talk to them about sanitary pads. “Sanitary pads are not something we necessarily avoid discussing at my school,” she said. Another girl from Acacia High School who preferred to remain anonymous shared that at Acacia High School there are two counsellors who help learners with social problems including the access to sanitary pads among school girls. Just like learners from A. Ashipena, learners from Acacia also feel that sanitary pads should be made available for free for school girls. “Sanitary pads should be distributed for free because a lot of girls cannot afford them and it contributes to their absenteeism and teachers should not downplay the impact that sanitary pads provision has on school attendance,” she said. MICHAEL KAYUNDE

A dialogue with school girls

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

Please login to leave a comment

A dialogue with school girls

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

Please login to leave a comment

Login