4 FORMER FIRST LADIES JOIN FREE-SANITARY TOWELS DRIVE
FOUR former first ladies have come together for the launch of the K1 campaign in the fight against early child education towards the provision of free sanitary towels for girls in school.
Smartbrands Limited manager Abby Richards told the Daily Nation that Ms Vera Chiluba together with her successors Dr Maureen Mwanawasa, Ms Tandiwe Banda and Dr Christie Kaseba have joined demands for the provision of free sanitary towels for the girl-child to avoid her missing schools during menstruation.
The four have been lined up as anchor models for the launch of a fundraising fashion show aimed at raising funds for the purchase of sanitary towels and logistical support to the delivery of the pads for faraway schools.
“This is a fashion show aimed at helping to end early child marriages that have resulted from lack of sanitary towels for pupils during menstruation, which makes them miss school and in the long run, they lose interest in school and just get married.
“We intend to raise about K400, 000 from the initial function to be graced by the former first ladies, Ms Chiluba, Dr Mwanawasa, Ms Banda and Dr Kaseba as our official guests supporting our programme for the education of the girl-child,” she said.
Ms Richards explained that the project intends to extend its coverage all the ten provinces in the country beginning with Luapula’s Pambashe constituency supported by its Member of Parliament Sebastian Kopulande.
Ms Richards said the launch this Saturday will be the initial of many such functions to be held towards the ongoing purchase and supply of sanitary towels as well as procurement of light trucks to be used in the distribution of the same.
Ms Richards explained that as Smartbrands Limited, they were working with other sponsors including Pepsi, Mahogany Air, Mika Resorts and Lodges, Topstar and NatSave among other corporate entities that have come together for the cause.
The function is scheduled for Saturday at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.