STAFF REPORTER
Stanbic Bank has donated reusable sanitary pads and undergarments to 400 girls at Nyava Secondary School in Shamva District as part of the financial institution’s corporate social investment programme.
The donation of the 1600 reusable pads and 400 undergarments was done over the weekend.
Each of the 400 girls got a packet consisting of four reusable sanitary pads and two undergarments as Stanbic Bank consolidated its longstanding partnership with Talia Women’s Network in its quest to look after the needs of the girl child.
The 400 girls, from forms one to Upper Six were also given invaluable information on how to look after the pads as well as hygiene issues from representatives of Talia Women’s Network.
Stanbic Bank Acting Head of Brand and Marketing, Tariro Memo said menstruation and access to sanitary pads was one of the biggest challenges faced by girls particularly in the rural areas and those who were financially disadvantaged.
This, she said, saw the bank making a deliberate decision to play its part in alleviating the plight of the underprivileged girl child in not only accessing sanitary pads but in their educational welfare as well.
“Stanbic Bank has comprehensive Corporate Social Investment initiatives some of which are carefully designed to cater for the needs of the girl child through educational scholarships and, as in today’s case, support for menstrual health challenges,” Memo said.
She said Stanbic’s support stemmed from the knowledge that young girls often missed school during their menstrual cycle due to lack of access to sanitary wear, hence the institution moved in to ensure that the beneficiaries attended school all year round.
Memo noted that even when some girls braved the lack of pads and used alternatives, they still had considerable difficulty in going about their lives due to both practical reasons and the stigma frequently attached.
Last year Stanbic Bank donated 775 sanitary pads to girls from primary and secondary schools around the country while in 2018 the institution’s female employees voluntarily raised 900 disposable pads for the girl child in commemoration of International Women’s Day. Stanbic Bank complemented the gesture by the women and added 2500 reusable sanitary pads.
Talia Women’s Network director, Saliwe Zakariya said it is important to take note of the fact that menstruation affects everyone including boys and men.
“The most important aspect of menstruation is attention to detail regarding hygiene. It is important to bath twice a day especially when one is on their period,” Zakariya said.
