Community schools in pads galore

MUYANI SHINJABALE Writes ABOUT 20,000 sanitary pads have been given out to a number of community schools in Ndola by a Non-Governmental Organisation. The donation is meant to promote hygiene and keep the girl child in school.  Living No One Behind Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Warren Mwambazi, said the donation was also aimed at supplementing Government’s efforts to ensure that the girl child stayed in school. Speaking to the Daily Nation in Ndola, Mr Mwambazi said the girl child was one of the most vulnerable in society, especially those in community schools. He stated that a good number of girls in community schools shunned school because they could not afford sanitary pads which left them academically behind. Mr Mwambazi indicated that the distribution of sanitary towels was the first phase as the project was an on-going. He said the distribution of the sanitary pads was part of the organisation’s strategic plan to promote the welfare of the vulnerable in society. He said Chalubemba, Twikatane, Zikomo, Twashuka and Old Regiment community schools would benefit from the gesture. And Twikatane Combined School Head Teacher, Lenny Daka, said the donation would go a long way in promoting education equality among the girls. Ms Daka said her school had 2,000 girls, who were of age stating that the provision of sanitary towels would help keep them in school. She indicated that it was sad to note that a good number of girls missed classes due to the absence of pads while the boy child attended class. Zikomo Basic School Guidance Teacher, Mayandu Sitali, said her school consisted of a good number of vulnerable children who came from areas such as Chipulukusu. Ms Sitali said the school could not afford to buy sanitary pads for all the girls which prompted the school administration to send them home. She said as a mother, it was heart breaking to see girls sent home and denied the chance to learn because they could not afford sanitary pads. The Sun