It is estimated that 3 in 10 South African high school girls miss a week of school every month due to not having menstrual health products available. Now, one Cape school is equipped to move forward without this worry, thanks to a sanitary-pad vending machine that has been supplied and stocked for learners.
Last year, upon recognizing the need for improved access to sanitary products in the Mitchells Plain area, the Liberty Promenade Mall took on the challenge to make a difference. Through partnering with the OâGraceland and Menstruation Foundations, a solution was found. Together, these organisations handed over a vending machine, which has been installed in a bathroom at the Glendale Secondary School in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain.
The vending machine, sponsored by Liberty Promenade, will be stocked up monthly to ensure sufficient supply to cater to the needs of the 600 female learners throughout the year. Learners will be provided with tokens to access the pads at no cost. This way, their monthly cycles will be one less thing to worry about between the reality of learning, exams and other teenage stresses
At the recent handover Babalwa Laksha, captain of the Springbok female rugby team addressed the learners, saying âSchool is the one place that should be safe and empowering for young women, this project will ensure that they stay in school.â Learners were also given an educational talk on feminine hygiene and menstruation. Siv Ngesi, who advocates for the Menstruation Foundation said âIf men bled once a month, sanitary pads would be free. Condoms are free and sanitary products are not, it is a failure of justice.â
âAs a community-focussed mall, channelling support to address real needs in our area is very important to usâ said Brenda Bibby, General Manager of Liberty Promenade. âIt is unthinkable that girls should have to miss school due to lack of access to sanitary products and we are thrilled to be contributing to removing this obstacle at the Glendale Secondary Schoolâ she added.
