Govt sets aside ZWL$1.5bn for public school sanitary wear

Zim Now Writer

Girls in disadvantaged schools have received a boost in thew form of free sanitary wear that will be availed to all public schools in the country starting next year.

This emerged from Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube’s 2023 National Budget wherein $1,5 billion was allocated towards the procurement and distribution of sanitary wear to public schools.

“The programme of providing free sanitary wear to pupils will be sustained in 2023 to address the plight of the girl child, especially in rural areas with efforts being made to address distribution bottlenecks encountered during the previous years,” the Minister said.

“Therefore, the 2023 National Budget has a provision of $1.5 billion towards the procurement and distribution of sanitary wear to public schools.”

Reports have shown that girls, especially rural girl learners from poor backgrounds, often miss school or resort to unhygienic means during menstruation.

Following a petition from Sanitary Aid Zimbabwe and Deaf Zimbabwe Trust, Members of Parliament recently demanded that more sanitary wear be provided in schools across the country.