Sanitary What? Sanitary Where?
An excerpt from a publication by the Katswe Sistahood:
Sanitary What? Sanitary Where?
Must I roll up my used sanitary pad in a piece of tissue and carry it in my bag all day so I can dispose of it when I get home? Alternatively, I could just leave the pad on the floor in the campus toilet because there are no bins for sanitary wear in the toilets across campus, save for those in the hostels. As a day scholar at the institution I am not allowed entry into these hostels.
So, this is how the story goes, the entire institution is run by a male principal and his male cabinet who haven’t got the slightest idea what the needs of young women on campus are. Quite frankly I’m disgusted by this. The question is, am I the only one who is troubled by this horrible situation? Health and hygiene should be of paramount importance in our educational institutions and work places. We need to make sure those responsible are taken to task to deliver on these basic services. Just between you and me, I was tempted one day to leave a soiled sanitary pad outside the principal’s office. It’s too drastic I know, but what must we do to get the necessary response to such an important issue. We need sanitary wear bins in all female toilets on campus in Zimbabwe. And functional incinerators.
- Disgruntled student!