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The Women Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ), Hwange Young Women Forum (HYWF) has embarked on a sanitary wear mobilisation campaign to assist all the vulnerable girls in the district.
Through their campaign dubbed #BuyAPadSecureASmileCampaign, the organisation is calling for well-wishers to come on board and support the initiative.
Speaking during a Young Women cross exchange meeting recently held at a local hotel in Hwange, HYWF chairlady, Petronela Makanda said the forum is spearheading this drive although it is still at its infancy stage.
“As the WCoZ Young Women forum we have initiated the pad drive campaign to assist the vulnerable although it is still on a small scale.”
“We need to assist vulnerable girls who are within our communities for them to be able to put a smile on their faces with this hygienic gesture.”
Makanda said they have managed to source pads which are currently at the WCoZ office awaiting distribution at the end of this month.
Research reveals that about 72 percent of schoolgirls in rural areas do not use commercial sanitary wear, resorting to unhygienic means, while 62 percent miss school every month while menstruating.
The forum has roped in other stakeholders including the Hwange Empowerment Youth Initiative, the Youth ministry as well as other well-wishers who want to see the initiative bearing fruit.
“To scale up our pad drive campaign we have collaborated with other local youth organisations, local companies and the Youth ministry to assist us with mobilisation of the pads,” she said.
She said those willing to boost their efforts can contact WCoZ’s Hwange Chapter Coordinator on +263 771 892 897.
Sanitary pads are now a luxury for most vulnerable women and girls as the majority live way below the poverty datum line due to Zimbabwe’s economic hardships. Indaba
