The beginning of puberty and the menstruation cycle are a fundamental and healthy aspect of
the lives of women and girls. This is a phase indicating and symbolizing growth and development,
yet usually characterized by anxiety, fear, shame, stigma and discrimination. Menstrual hygiene
management is directly linked to the fulfilment of human rights and specifically reproductive
rights, both as a precondition for attaining rights such as health and education, and also as a
matter of dignity in its own right. It is an integral component to achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and Malawi’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
It is imperative that girls who menstruate are provided with the necessary information, resources
and support to manage their menstrual needs throughout the lifecycle from menarche to
menopause. Yet, menstrual health remains a silent issue in Malawi, where girls who menstruate
access to menstrual health management is negatively influenced by social norms, limited access
to age-appropriate information, unavailability of affordable sanitary products, and limited quality
of water and sanitation facilities. This hinders their daily activities, increases risk of school
absence, leads to stigma and discrimination, and has negative implications for their sexual and reproductive and mental health.
As Mphatso Zathu Foundation We Distribute train girls in schools on how to make reusable sanitary pads to create an environment for girls to boldly into the promise of their future. The goal of the initiative is to empower the vulnerable girls through capacity building on menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health for improved performance and self-esteem. We work towards restoring the dignity of menstruating girls and keep them in schools at the time of their menstrual while dealing with issues of issues. We have so far reached to over 500girls as we plan to reach out to more girls.
