Online Reporter
Online Reporter
SCORES of adolescent girls at St Vincent Secondary School in Goromonzi received a major boost after a local company donated reusable sanitary pads, a gesture aimed at reducing absenteeism and ensuring girls remain in class during their menstrual cycles.
The donation is expected to ease the burden on learners from disadvantaged families who often struggle to access sanitary products.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Dadiso Brands board chairperson Mr Takaindisa Svosve said the company manufactures reusable sanitary pads because every girl deserves the opportunity to learn without interruption.
“We believe that no girl should miss school, lose confidence or compromise her health because of her period,” he said.
Mr Svosve said St Vincent Secondary School was chosen because it serves a farming community where many learners come from less privileged backgrounds.
He said studies and the company’s community outreach programmes had shown that many girls miss between three and five school days every month due to a lack of menstrual products.
“Over a year, that translates into weeks of lost learning,” he said.
Mr Svosve said the reusable pads are washable, safe and can last for up to two years if properly cared for, reducing costs for families while protecting the environment.
Dadiso Brands chief executive Ms Mildred Mapolisa said providing sanitary pads alone was not enough, stressing the need to promote menstrual health education and restore the dignity of young girls.
She encouraged learners to observe proper hygiene, seek guidance whenever they experience discomfort and remain focused on their education.
“Your dreams are bigger than one week in a month. Do not let anything stop you,” she said.
Ms Mapolisa also appealed to teachers and parents to create a supportive environment for girls by breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation and ensuring they have the facilities and information they need.
Receiving the donation, St Vincent Secondary School headmistress Mrs Ethel Maya thanked Dadiso Brands for the intervention.
“We have some girls who stay away from school during their menstrual periods. This gesture will help address that challenge and enable them to attend classes without interruption,” she said.
