UNICEF says that adolescent girls in school suffer the most when they are menstruating. Many schools report absenteeism among adolescent girls due to a lack of clean, private changing rooms and without access to soap, water and sanitary pads. Some stay away from school for a few days. This hampers girls’ learning – they miss classes and they attend classes with reduced self-esteem and dignity.
The Kiriwina High School girls and Kiriwina’s new mothers are all thrilled to be consistently supplied with washable menstrual pads and underpants.
Ruth Boaz (Co-head VBA)
