Rural schools in Eastern Cape benefit from donation of sanitary dignity towels

During the last quarter of 2020, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) made a generous donation to the Eastern Cape Provincial House of Traditional Leaders as part of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The donation included sanitary dignity products, soaps, buckets and sanitizers. 

The distribution plan targeted school children from rural areas which is in line with the UNFPA principle of “Leaving no-one behind and targeting the furthest first”. Early this year, the following rural schools in Eastern Cape were recipients of the donations:

Jongilanga High School in Kwelerha (Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality)

The Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Xolile Nqatha, acknowledged UNFPA’s commitment in prioritizing the diverse health needs of young girls. Chief Ndamase, an executive member of the Provincial House, gave a detailed background on the partnership between the House and the UNFPA and expressed gratitude in having partners who prioritized the plight of the poor rural communities.

Viwe Dunjwa from the UNFPA said the donation was part of a broader and bigger Menstrual Health Management Programme run by the agency. Its main purpose is to maintain the dignity of the girl child and young women.  She emphasized the importance of the partnership as the traditional leaders are the face of service delivery. To this end, UNFPA programmes and initiatives seek to reach the marginalized in society and those who are located far from basic services in an effort to empower them. 

The school headmaster, Siba Maqungu, expressed joy and happiness with the donation and said that rural schools are usually left out in the cold when such useful donations are made. He expressed gratitude to UNFPA for being a “caring” organization and that the donation would go a long way to improve the health and wellness of the girls.

Ruze and Dokodela Senior Primary Schools in Libode (O.R. Tambo District Municipality)

Chief Ntandoyesizwe Ndamase of Mabalengwe Traditional Council under AmaMpondo Nyandeni Kingship led a delegation of traditional leaders from the area to distribute sanitary dignity packs to Ruze and Dokodela senior primary schools in Libode. In his statement, the chief said the partnership between the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders and UNFPA has made it possible to bring essential basic commodities to local rural schools as part of ensuring that young girls do not miss school due to periods.

Chief Ndamase further explained that the partnership, among other things, seeks to preserve the dignity of young girls and women in general while also including young boys so they can understand the importance of their role in society and also treat females with respect and dignity. The principals of the two primary schools expressed their appreciation of the donation.

St Thomas School for the Deaf in Stutterheim (Amathole District Municipality)

Nkosi Mhlauli distributed sanitary dignity packs to St. Thomas School for the Deaf in Stutterheim. In his statement, he said the initiative was based on empowering young girls, adding that the donation was in line with the mandates and principles of UNFPA and the House which targets vulnerable groups in society.