‘Subz’ sanitary underwear to help schoolgirls
AS MANY as two million schoolgirls in South Africa do not attend school while they are menstruating because they cannot afford sanitary towels.
This is according to Project Dignity, an NGO focused on supplying school girls with reusable underwear with a sanitary pad called Subz.
“That means one week a month of missing school; a substantial setback. They are also unable to participate in sporting activities,” said Project Dignity marketing manager Ewert Oliphant.
According to him, women who are infected with HIV also pose a significant health problem when disposing of makeshift pads. This is also a hazard in countries battling with the Ebola virus.
But with reusable pads, Oliphant said schoolgirls can also take part and won’t be hindered in activities while they are menstruating.
“Subz can be rewashed and used for up to five years. The pad has been tested by the SABS and has also been approved by various gynaecologists and pharmaceutical companies.”
Project Dignity is raising funds to assist girls in financially challenged rural areas, as well as cities.
“Contributing to this project will save up to three months of pupil absenteeism a year by providing effective, affordable and hygienic feminine products,” Oliphant said.
The distribution of Subz is done in batches of 500 bags at a cost of approximately R200 a pack.
Community Chest Western Cape will launch a project tomorrow at Rosendal High School in Delft to assist in providing sanitary pads to schoolgirls who cannot afford them. The year-long project will provide 6 000 hygiene packs every school quarter to 12 of the most affected schools.
Earlier this year, the City health directorate and various non-governmental organisations and academic partners rounded off a pilot project on teen sexual health.
The project’s primary focus was on the distribution of reusable sanitary pads by NGOs to address school absenteeism and drop-out rates among female pupils.
Mayco member for Health Siyabulela Mamkeli said the pads have been distributed to Grade 8 pupils at Simanyene High in Nomzamo, Strand.
“The distribution of the pads coincides with separate education sessions for girls and boys. Three other high schools in Mfuleni will have their sessions in September and October. These are Mfuleni Secondary, Bardale Secondary and Manzomthombo Secondary.”
Mamkeli said pupils who have already received the pads said they were easy to wash, comfortable and convenient.
“This pilot project will wrap up by October. Once completed, we will do an assessment to determine potentially rolling it out to other parts of the city,” he said.
Hygieia Women’s Health Solutions founder Kim Smith said reusable sanitation products were one of the options government should seriously consider when it comes to supplying schoolgirls with affordable sanitation.
Smith has been involved in advocating a reusable menstrual cup as an alternative to sanitation pads in poorer areas. The cup can be used for 12 hours at a time and is more affordable than conventional sanitary pads as it can be reused for up to five years.