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Chiradzulu school has four latrines for 658 girls

 

Girls from Namaka Primary School in Chiradzulu tend to shun classes when experiencing monthly menstruation periods because there are inadequate latrines where they can change sanitary pads.

The school’s head teacher, Meriam Majamanda, said this when Junior Chambers International (JCI) donated sanitary pads to some girls at the school.

She said there are only four latrines for the school’s 658 girls.

Chirambo (L) presents a pack to one of the girls
Chirambo (L) presents a pack to one of the girls

Said Majamanda: “The girls always queue at the latrines. As a result, those experiencing the menses feel inconvenienced and just stay home during this period.

“They feel shy because their colleagues tend to wonder when they take longer  than others in the latrines.”

JCI, with financial support from Airtel Malawi, donated sanitary packs-each containing four reusable pads and two bars of soap-to 100 girls.

JCI 2016 local president Elizabeth Chirambo said the pads can be reused for up to five years if the girls dry them properly once washed.

“We know we cannot reach everyone, but we feel we can alleviate some of these problems. This is the second donation after the one we made to Manja Primary School in Blantyre,” she said.

Airtel Malawi corporate communications social responsibility manager Norah Chavula-Chirwa challenged the girls to make good use of the pads and work hard in class, saying more donations would come if they proved to be hard working. n

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