Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe (IPMZ), together with its partners, has donated approximately 2,000 packs of sanitary pads to help combat period poverty.
The donation will provide each girl at Mavangwe Secondary School in Buhera North Constituency with a year’s supply of pads.
Period poverty, a global challenge, is defined as the lack of access to menstrual products, education, and proper sanitation facilities.
While sanitary pads are essential for women’s health, their high retail prices make them unaffordable for many. This often forces women and girls to use unsafe alternatives, increasing the risk of infections and other health issues.
Although the Zimbabwean government introduced a free sanitary pad program for schoolgirls in rural areas, the initiative has been hampered by erratic distribution and poor-quality products.
Parliament reports have often indicated that some schools go for months and some even years without receiving their allocations.
In 2021, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education revealed that some schools in Masvingo received pantyliners instead of proper sanitary pads.
The donation by IPMZ Women in HR will go a long way in alleviating some of these challenges and enable girls at Mavangwe Secondary School to focus on their education.
District Schools Inspector Mr Mutomba praised the initiative, emphasising that many girls in rural areas miss school during their menstrual cycle due to a lack of access to sanitary pads.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, IPMZ Women in HR Chairperson Michel Mzondo highlighted that the Sanitary Pad Campaign is an annual initiative aimed at supporting the girl child.
She thanked the partners and sponsors who contributed to the campaign’s success. Sponsors included First Mutual Health Services, MedOrange Pharmacies, and Bhola Hardware.
First Mutual Health Services representative Ms Reppoh noted that supporting community-focused initiatives aligns with the organisation’s corporate social responsibility commitments.
Meanwhile, Proportional Representation legislator Thokozani Khupe told Parliament during the 2025 pre-budget seminar, that the government should prioritise sanitary facilities in schools.
The Honourable Khupe also advocated for the removal of import duties on sanitary pads to ensure accessibility for all girls and safeguard their health and education.
The collaborative effort by IPMZ Women in HR and its partners is a significant step towards addressing issues of period poverty and ensuring that girls in rural communities can pursue their education uninterrupted.
IPMZ Women in HR Donates 2,000 Sanitary Pads to Combat Period Poverty
