More education thanks to better hygiene.
Malawi. Menstruation is one of the reasons why girls in Malawi suffer from an education deficit.
The cause is the inadequate water supply and a lack of knowledge. One in four schools have no access to safe water. On average, 150 female and male students have to share one latrine. As a result of this, girls stay away from school while they are menstruating.
UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein is supporting a program until the end of 2023 to promote menstrual health in fifty primary schools. One measure involves strengthening self-help groups for mothers and supporting knowledge sharing among girls. For example, young women can learn how to make cloth menstrual pads themselves. The program also raises awareness of menstrual health among teaching staff. Girls are given reusable menstrual pads at school.
By the end of 2022, 2,500 girls and 1,000 boys had been provided with information. 366 female and 20 male students have been trained as peer mentors and male champions. Together, they have been able to educate 1,266 of their classmates about menstrual hygiene. 13,000 information leaflets have been printed in English and the local language, Chichewa. Menstrual pads, underwear, buckets and soap have been distributed to 4,000 girls at the selected schools. One major success, not only financial but also in terms of public perception, is the abolition of the 16.5 percent tax on menstrual pads. This was achieved thanks to UNICEF’s lobbying efforts.
Overall, these measures ensure that girls can still attend school safely while they are menstruating.
