According to the BMC study, People with disabilities are at a higher risk to violence, discrimination, and experience lack of menstrual hygiene support.
A year ago, the government welcomed the announcement of washable reusable sanitary towel standards by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). On May 6, 2020 the SABS passed the first reusable sanitary standard: The manufacturer of Washable, Reusable Sanitary Towels” (SANS 1812). This is one of the first standards for washable sanitary pads in Southern Africa and is leading the way for other African countries to follow.
“The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) offered support and guidance through the standards process because our position has always been one of pro-choice. Women and girls need safe choices for ways to manage their menstruation,” said a statement issued by the government.
The Sanitary Towel Distribution Drive for the Youth and Menstrual hygiene and Health is a Global campaign which kickstarted from 16th June (Youth Day) and will end on the 10th December 2021 (International Human Rights Day). It aims to bring awareness to some of the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is a recognised public health, social and educational issue, which must be tackled head on to allow the realisation of human rights. People with disabilities are likely to experience the most in discrimination when they are menstruating, but due to a lack of evidence existing in relation to this topic, these issues are often overlooked by many in our communities, businesses and economies.
A report by Unicef has confirmed this: “Menstruating girls and women with different types of disabilities may have different needs. Those with physical impairments in their upper body and arms may have difficulties placing their sanitary protection materials in the correct position and washing themselves, their clothes, and the menstrual materials.”
“Those with vision impairments (blind or low vision) may face challenges knowing if they have fully cleaned themselves, and those with intellectual and developmental impairments may need accessible and easy-to-read materials tailored to support them to communicate about pain and their needs and to learn about MHH,” continued the report.
Menstruation remains a natural fact of life and a monthly occurrence for millions of girls, women, transgender men and non-binary persons of reproductive age in South Africa. Yet millions of these individuals across are lacking the right to manage their monthly menstrual cycle in a dignified and healthy manner.
To generate an increased level of awareness amongst South Africans relative to the incidents of poor sanitation, hygiene and health perpetuated against young developing women with disabilities; and people holistically, in schools and underprivA qualitative study by the BMC Public Health has found that there are barriers to menstrual hygiene faced by people with a disability.
Drop quote: “Menstruation remains a natural fact of life and a monthly occurrence for millions of girls, women, transgender men and non-binary persons of reproductive age in South Africa.”
According to the BMC study, People with disabilities are at a higher risk to violence, discrimination, and experience lack of menstrual hygiene support.
A year ago, the government welcomed the announcement of washable reusable sanitary towel standards by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). On May 6, 2020 the SABS passed the first reusable sanitary standard: The manufacturer of Washable, Reusable Sanitary Towels” (SANS 1812). This is one of the first standards for washable sanitary pads in Southern Africa and is leading the way for other African countries to follow.
“The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) offered support and guidance through the standards process because our position has always been one of pro-choice. Women and girls need safe choices for ways to manage their menstruation,” said a statement issued by the government.
The Sanitary Towel Distribution Drive for the Youth and Menstrual hygiene and Health is a Global campaign which kickstarted from 16th June (Youth Day) and will end on the 10th December 2021 (International Human Rights Day). It aims to bring awareness to some of the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is a recognised public health, social and educational issue, which must be tackled head on to allow the realisation of human rights. People with disabilities are likely to experience the most in discrimination when they are menstruating, but due to a lack of evidence existing in relation to this topic, these issues are often overlooked by many in our communities, businesses and economies.
A report by Unicef has confirmed this: “Menstruating girls and women with different types of disabilities may have different needs. Those with physical impairments in their upper body and arms may have difficulties placing their sanitary protection materials in the correct position and washing themselves, their clothes, and the menstrual materials.”
“Those with vision impairments (blind or low vision) may face challenges knowing if they have fully cleaned themselves, and those with intellectual and developmental impairments may need accessible and easy-to-read materials tailored to support them to communicate about pain and their needs and to learn about MHH,” continued the report.
Menstruation remains a natural fact of life and a monthly occurrence for millions of girls, women, transgender men and non-binary persons of reproductive age in South Africa.monthly menstrual cycle in a dignified and healthy manner.To geneileged communities, how it manifests within South African society and the negative impact this has on these vulnerable groups.
This is the same reason that has driven inspiration for the Sanitary Towel Donation Drive to eliminate and conquer the underlying issues that our young women face due to the lack of proper Menstrual Sanitation, Hygiene and Health. Reality Peer Solutions, as the lead organisation is working closely with the teams namely Rise ’N Shine Disability Magazine and The Unstoppable Youth.
The challenges people with disabilities that face include:
- Women and girls with disabilities, especially those living in rural areas, find it hard to access sanitary towels.
- Women and girls with disabilities may face challenges in accessing sufficient sanitary pads as they are not freely available at healthcare centres.
- They can’t afford sanitary pads.
- Menstruating women and girls with disabilities are more likely to be discriminated against and ridiculed than able bodied women.
They have developed the Sanitary Towel Distribution Drive Campaign to close the inequality gap in Sanitation, Hygiene economy in alignment with the Covid19 pandemic we are currently faced with. In addition, strategic partnerships between us as civil society and businesses have been established to broaden the potential impact of the campaign. The Local government policy and legislative framework creates an enabling environment for gender equality, empowerment and the participation of women and other disadvantaged groups in developmental initiatives and the Health sector.
The South
African Human Rights Commission agrees that lack of menstrual hygiene products inflicts indignity upon millions of women and girls. “They continue to experience a menstrual cycle with no clean materials to manage the period in a dignified manner. There is no dignity without basic necessities such as sanitary napkins. This perpetuates a culture of silence that forces many to cope in isolation,” observed the commission.
This initiative is basically targeting special schools hence we started it at the Vukuhambe Special School at Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape on the 16th June 2021. We were able to reach donors through organised ward committees who utilised their resources and planned activities to reach this target group. One of our main sponsors was Beyond Zero. Jesus Christ Family dancers entertained our children.
The Educators requested us to introduce other programmes that can develop and include these children in other group activities. The toolkit developed specifically for the local municipalities will assist in driving the campaign at local government level directly in communities. This can be achieved through the Implementation Plan for the Sanitary Towel Donation Drive Campaign. Fundraising initiatives are to be implemented in order to raise funds from businesses and other relevant stakeholders.