By Staff writer
A Non-governmental Organization has embarked on an ambitious project to assist at least a million girls with menstrual pads.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) says the program will target women and girls in marginalized communities.
The world over, nearly two billion women menstruate, with 500 million experiencing period poverty.
This includes lack of access to basic menstrual health products and services.
AHF prevention program manager, Clever Taderera said they are mainly targeting those in vulnerable communities and school going children.
“Lack of access to sanitary pads has the potential to increase school drop outs,” he said.
“About 20 percent end up missing school due to period poverty, this leads to a high number of girls engaging in transactional or transgenerational sex.
“This limits their ability to negotiate for safer sex thereby increasing the risk of contracting HIV.”
Taderera was speaking during a media breakfast meeting on period poverty and menstrual hygiene day commemorations.
This year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day was held under the theme “Together for a Period friendly World.”
The commemorations are held on the 28th of May every year.
