Online Reporter
Ronald Mpofu in Mphoengs
CIVIL servants stationed at Mphoengs Border Post marked Public Service Wellness Day on Wednesday with a donation of 3 900 sanitary pads to girls at Nkedile Primary School in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South.
The day, which ran under the theme, “Girl Child in Mind”, saw immigration officers, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials and local stakeholders, coming together to make the donation, aimed at improving the hygiene standards for young girls in Ward 15, Nkedile Village.
Principal Immigration Officer in charge of Mphoengs Border Post, Mr Douglas Moyo and Miss Martha Mali, Revenue Supervisor, led the project after identifying hygiene challenges in the community.
Speaking during the event, Mr Moyo said their thrust was to ensure that the girl child is not left behind.
“We came up with this idea of contributing to the girl child together with Miss Martha Mali since we are working among the community, we had the eye to see where there are inadequacies, so we organised the stakeholders, police, army, and the business community to donate to our girl child. So far, we have donated about 3900 pads for the girl child,” he said.
Nkedile Primary School head, Mr Mpumelelo Phahla, expressed gratitude for the donation.
He revealed that the school has 342 learners (173 girls and 169 boys) and they will store and distribute the pads as needed.
“We will keep the pads at school to prevent siblings from taking them at home. If managed well, this supply could last until year-end.”
Miss Anitha Ndlovu, a nurse from Anees Brunapeg Hospital, urged parents to support their daughters during puberty.
“Girls must attend school to learn about hygiene and abuse. Even during menstruation, they should maintain cleanliness discreetly.”
As part of the commemorations, the community received free blood pressure (BP), weight, random blood sugar (RBS), and temperature tests, with referrals made for further medical care.
In a touching gesture, Valentine Ncube, a member of the ZNA donated a pair of school shoes to a Grade 4 learner who he noticed walking barefoot as the temperatures were low.
