Demystifying menstruation among girls
By Charity Dube
Angela Chiranduro (35) says the introduction of a new school curriculum that has a component on puberty and menstrual health is a positive development as it demystifies some myths and misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health.
Angela says limited access to menstrual health information in particular affects the performance of girls in school. She reveals that when she had her first period, she was terrified, fearing that it was a disease.
“When I was growing up, no one told me about menstruation. My mother never talked about any issue related to sexual and menstrual health. I started having my period when I was in my first year in secondary school. I was thirteen years old,” says Angela.
Angela says she will never forget that day when she had her first period. She says it happened when she was in class and she had to rush to the toilet to check out what was happening.
“I was in class when I felt some hot stuff coming out of me. I rushed to the toilet to check out what was happening. I discovered that there was blood on my panties. I was so scared. I had no idea what was happening to me. I thought I was sick or something. I went back to class and asked for permission from the teacher to go home,” says Angela.
Angela says when she got home, her mother was there but she could not confide in her what had happened. Instead, Angela says she told her older cousin about the blood on her panties.
“I was fortunate that my cousin had information about menstruation. She told me what was happening and what I should do. I was relieved because I had thought that it was only an issue peculiar to me,” says Angela.
Angela says in the traditional context girls learn about menstruation from their aunties (sisters to their fathers) which can be problematic because most of these aunties are from the rural areas and have never used a modern sanitary pad in their lives. They teach these young girls information handed down to them by their own generational aunties. Such information then becomes void since it does not apply to the current generation.
“Many mothers in the traditional context do not talk about menstruation with their daughters. Perhaps they feel that it is much better if someone does it on their behalf. This creates problems when no one is there to talk about menstrual health with the girls. Young girls discover menstruation on their own and have misconceptions about it. They are embarrassed and humiliated about it,” says Angela.
Angela has two daughters of her own and she vowed to take it upon herself to teach them about menstruation and menstrual hygiene and even sex education. She doesn’t want her daughters to be misinformed.
Angela says she is happy that schools are now going to help girls to understand menstruation. She says the new curriculum has a topic on puberty and that both boys and girls get to learn about it in class. She however says that more still needs to be done for girls to reach a point where they can freely and openly talk about menstruation without the risk of being judged or teased.
“Menstruation is part of a woman’s life from as early as nine years until they get older. It is natural and should be celebrated. We should never shy away from talking about menstruation. Pads and tampons should be made aware to everyone so that girls do not have to struggle to conceal that they are having a period,” says Angela.
Angela says she is also happy that some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are supporting girls with information on menstruation and donating pads.
“There are organizations such as Zimbabwe Education Fund trust and PadUp Zimbabwe who are working on menstrual health. These organisations are partnering with schools and communities in both rural and urban areas, teaching women and girls about menstrual health and doing presentations on reusable pad making,” says Angela.
Fatima Mleya (12) is one of the girls who have benefited from menstrual programmes by NGOs. Fatima says participating in meeting organized by ZIMEFU and PadUp Zimbabwe has helped her to understand more about menstruation and other issues related to sexual and reproductive health.
“I am grateful for the teachings on menstruation and the making of reusable pads, I now look forward to my periods without fear. Discussing menstruation with other girls has helped me to realize that I am not alone,” says Fatima.
