Sanitary pads bring joy

Over 260 schoolgirls from Ncamagoro Combined School could not contain their joy on Tuesday, when they each received a parcel containing free sanitary products and other basic necessities.The products valued at N$29 000 were donated by Windhoek-based women's foundation Ekupe Okashona in response to a Namibian Sun article that lifted the veil on how women and girls from poor households are left with no option but to resort to harmful practices when they menstruate, thereby putting their lives at risk.Schoolgirls, especially in rural areas, tend to be absent from school when they menstruate, which affects their academic journey.With this donation, the Ncamagoro schoolgirls will now be able to go to school, even when they are menstruating.Each parcel contained five packs of disposable sanitary towels, toothpaste, a toothbrush, Vaseline and bath soap. Namibian Sun reported on Ncamagoro village in Kavango West recently, where women and girls resort to using mattresses, pillow-stuffing, dried leaves and cotton cloths when they menstruate, because they cannot afford sanitary pads. At the time Namibian Sun was shown a tube-like plant known as epepo. This is one of the traditional ways in which girls and women deal with their menstruation.Locals demonstrated how they peel off a part of the plant, and then rub it until it is softens and feels like cotton, before using it as a sanitary pad.A large epepo plant can be used for up to three months.Ekupe Okashona member Hilka Mbako explained that the donation was ignited by the Namibian Sun article published on 3 June.She said members of the foundation decided to contribute funds and make the donation.“We are just a group of women friends in Windhoek who have an organisation called Ekupe Okashona, which laterally means 'whoever has given you something small has blessed your heart',” Mbako explained.“We help with various projects, just to uplift the lives of people in communities and we saw that article in the Namibian Sun newspaper, and based on that, we then decided to get some funds together and then just buy the products for the girls. “We also decided that instead of just buying pads, we should assist with other basic necessities, such as bath soap, toothpaste and others.”Mbako said later they did not make the donation for publicity, adding it had been facilitated through the Kavango West gender ministry office.Kavango West chief social worker Brenda Mwiya and her colleagues Stella Mwazi and Victoria Hauwanga handed over the donation to the learners. Mwiya encouraged the beneficiaries not to sell or give away the products. “The products were donated to you for free, so that you don't miss a day of school because of menstruation,” Mwiya said.School principal Jacobus Sikongo thanked Ekupe Okashona for the donation, saying it means a lot.He added that the donors should keep up the good work of uplifting the lives of fellow, needy Namibians.KENYA KAMBOWE

Sanitary pads bring joy

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-07

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Sanitary pads bring joy

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-07

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