STAFF REPORTER
A local company has partnered with the ministries of Women Affairs and Education to hold a dignity conference that seeks to improve the period experience for African women and girls.
The Period Dignity Conference will be held virtually on Monday.
Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development minister Sithembiso Nyoni will be the guest of honour.
The Period Company says the conference will investigate how Zimbabwe can embed a culture of period dignity across the country, particularly in the rural areas where the need is much greater.
“60% of Zimbabwean women and girls do not have access to adequate sanitary products. They often resort to poor and unhygienic sanitary methods like leaves, rags or grass in order to get through their period,” it said.
“Though Zimbabwe has removed tax on all sanitary products, there is still a lot that needs to be done. We as The Period Company would like to do our part.”
Issues to be addressed at the conference include the free provision of period products, sharing best practice in implementing period policies across sectors and addressing taboos, myths and inequalities in menstruation and menstrual health.
It will explore the challenges and success of free product provision in schools and colleges and how we can continue to change the conversation around periods in education and the creation and implementation of a workplace period policy and strategy
