OPUWO, Kunene-Sept 29 – – In a fact-finding mission that sought out solutions to problems faced in the Kunene Region, Representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Sheila Roseau and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Rachel Odede paid a courtesy call to the
Governor of Kunene Region, Hon. Marius Sheya recently.
They discussed the challenges that the region is facing, brainstormed current solutions to address
them and how UNFPA and UNICEF can get on board to assist. The two UN agencies came
prepared and handed over sanitary pads on behalf of UN Namibia.
Breaking taboos
Governor Sheya has a box that is neatly covered with white and pink fabric. On top of the box is
written: ‘Donate a Pad to Keep Girls in School’. However, to the multitudes of men who still
view it as taboo to talk about women’s menstrual cycle, they find it strange that he has a box in
his office.
“Why would a man have a box of pads in his office?” This is a frequently asked question due to
issues relating exclusively to patriarchy. But for him as a father of three girls, there is nothing out
of the norm as he can relate.
Previously, the Governor visited a school and upon arrival, found girls in the hostel (in their
rooms) and not attending school because they were menstruating and did not have sanitary pads.
At another school hostel, Hon. Sheya further observed pieces of mattress material on the ground.
This was a shocker to him and when he asked the teacher why pieces of matrasses where all over
the place, he was told the girls had been using them as make-shift sanitary pads.
These would subsequently be thrown out of the window after use – a practice that shies away
from good hygiene.
Transforming lives
“So, we have been dispatching pads to the schools in the areas in need of pads. Having a pad is
beyond the price, it is about dignity,” said Hon. Sheya.
He added that “A girl needs to be confident about herself and her body especially when she is in
the class.”
It has been estimated that one in 10 girls in Namibia will miss school when they have their
periods. A 2020 study on knowledge, practices and challenges on menstrual health and hygiene
in Namibia report only 17% of girls living in rural areas have access to improved sanitary
services.
The study found that only 29% of schools have flush toilets, over a quarter of girls (28%) use
toilet facilities that were not separated from those of the boys and over half of schools (51 %)
make no provision for girls in relation to menstruation such as handwashing stations with soap
and water and rubbish bin inside toilet for safe disposal of pads.
What UNFPA is doing to support government?
“The aim of UNFPA is to reach those furthest behind first. We focus on girls and women because these are the groups whose rights often go unfulfilled,” said UNFPA Representative, Roseau.
She said
UNFPA reaches women and girls directly with menstrual supplies during humanitarian
emergencies. During the drought and now COVID-19 emergency, UNFPA distributed dignity
kits, which contained disposable menstrual pads, underwear, soap and related items to vulnerable
women and girls,” she stressed.
In addition, UNFPA and UNICEF jointly supported the Government of Namibia to conduct a
baseline study on knowledge, practices and challenges on menstrual health and hygiene in
Namibia as well as incorporate menstrual health management in the new Integrated School
Health Policy.
UNFPA Namibia’s work on menstrual health is done as part of the Safeguard Young People
Programme, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, that is scaling up
interventions touching on policy, integrated HIV and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive
health services, sexuality education for in- and out-of-school youth as well as youth
empowerment in Southern Africa.
Caption
From left, UNFPA Representative, Sheila Roseau, Governor of Kunene Region, Hon. Marius
Sheya and UNICEF Representative, Rachel Odede.
musa@namibiadailynews.info
