Success Capital strives to eliminate period poverty

Period poverty remains a major concern for many girls, especially those residing in remote rural areas and villages. However, this does not exclude those staying in underserved communities within Botswana’s capital city Gaborone in locations such as Bontleng, Old Naledi and Broadhurst. Fortunately for the Bontleng community, Success Capital has been stretching a helping hand towards them in response to the situation. The non-governmental organisation (NGO) has once again donated sanitary pads to Bontleng Child Protection, Thuto Letlotlo, and Dare to Dream.

Many people who stay in Bontleng migrated to the capital city seeking greener pastures and this is one of the affordable places, where rent is cheaper or less expensive for many underpaid employees. Many families reside here.

Even though the idea of staying in the capital city is enticing, many families here are living in abject poverty. This has negatively impacted the young women and girls who continue to live in dire situations and cannot afford to buy a packet of sanitary pads forcing some to miss school during their menstruation days.

Now that Botswana, like other countries globally, had been badly hit by COVID-19 where many breadwinners lost jobs while some even worse, lost their lives, women and the girl-child were greatly affected by this. A simple meal and a pack of safe and clean sanitary pads are unaffordable.

Director of Success Capital, Dumiso Gasha told Mmegi they donate sanitary pads to girls in different parts of Botswana to avoid stigmatisation that results in discrimination.

He said there was a need for people to recognise that women had rights like everyone. He also pointed out that the issue (stigmatisation of menstruation) was one of the many that contribute to gender-based violence (GBV). He added that women were socialised to uphold values of patriarchy in their culture which causes men to undermine and treat women as second class citizens.

Furthermore, he said the decision to donate came after conducting a research study on teenage pregnancy and defilement. He explained that they saw it as a tangible way to give back and mitigate just one aspect of the many challenges the girl-child experiences in a country regarded as the second-highest in reported rape incidents and reported as the eighth most unequal.

“Since we started our donation drive in March in remote locations such as Mookane, Tshesebe and Tsamaya, we recognised that there are underserved communities even in proximity or within the capital city. One in 10 girls misses school because of period poverty.

We also reached the Bontleng Child Protection Committee which saw the importance and collaborated with us to make sure we provide for 150 girls and 50 of their caregivers, siblings and family last year where we gave them a three-month supply. This year we gave them 1,100 sanitary pads,” he explained.

Gasha stated that Botswana was one of the top four countries worldwide affected by HIV. He said statistics from 2019 showed that of the 29,000 people aged 15–24 affected by HIV, 64% of them were women, thus further stating that women tend to be more vulnerable and hence affected the most by socio-economic problems.

For her part, Doreen Moji of Thuto Letlotlo said they were working to assist school children in preparing them for the Primary School Leaving Examinations. She noted that they aim to assist children in school, especially those in rural areas working the field/farms. Moji further explained that culturally it was taboo to talk about periods or menstruation, adding that it contributes to stigmatisation.

“We should collaborate to tackle this issue and work as a community. The lack of information regarding menstruation in society needs to be addressed. Facilities are required at schools to help people that menstruate more especially if they have stained themselves. We should strive to mainstream

Time and again we hear of a girl-child missing school simply because she cannot afford to buy sanitary pads. Most of these girls resort to using cheaper and unhealthy items such as toilet paper and dirty rags on their menstruation days. This not only posed a threat to their health but has also stripped them of their dignity. A hand of two from good Samaritans can make a great impact in their lives. correspondent

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Mmegi this initiative and donate more pads to girls all across the country, especially those who cannot afford to buy a pack of sanitary pads for a safe and clean period. Men, boys and society tend to ridicule and or bully women and young girls if they stain themselves leading to feelings of shame and disgust regarding menstruation,” she said. For her part, Elizabeth Matshaba who is chairperson of Bontleng Child Protection said they observed that there was dire need for sanitary pads in her community. She added that many parents could not afford to pay for sanitary pads for themselves and even for their daughters. As a result, many girls tend to stain themselves during menstruation days and use school jerseys to hide the stains. She added that some girls find it hard to tell their parents when they get their first period and as a result do not play with their peers during their menstruation days.

“This initiative helps bring dignity to the girl-child across the country. Toilet papers are not hygienic for draining blood during menstruation. The habit of using tissue paper carries a serious public health risk and the practice places girls and women at risk of having infection resulting in serious health problems,” she said.

KGAMANYANE