"The goal is to distribute sanitary pads to over 10,000 Tanzanian girls," said 16-year-old Arjun Kaur Mittal, who leads a health campaign titled ‘Her Needs Tanzania.’
Mittal, who previously studied in both India and the UAE, explained that these sanitary pads are specifically intended for Tanzanian students from underprivileged families in remote parts of the country, where many basic necessities are scarce.
"Through contributions from our friends and other well-wishers in India and Dubai, we have successfully raised TShs 200 million for this cause," added Ms. Mittal. Her connections in India and the UAE enabled her to rally support from her friends to back the mission
To kickstart the initiative, they distributed sanitary pads to 400 girls at Mkonoo Secondary School in the Terrat Ward of Arusha. The event was coupled with awareness training on the importance of using sanitary pads to ensure the health and dignity of young girls.
"Sanitary pads are crucial because they give female students the confidence to attend classes regularly, regardless of their menstrual cycle," said Clara Kanuti, a Form Four student at Mkonoo Secondary School.
According to Clara, free sanitary pads for female students are as essential as books. She urged the government and other education stakeholders to consider this and ensure the supply of these disposable hygiene products to girls in schools.
Mwalimu Bernadetha Cosmas, a Biology teacher at Mkonoo School, acknowledged that many students have been missing classes during their monthly menstrual cycles. However, she expressed hope that once sanitary pads become readily available, the problem will be alleviated.
"We particularly recommend that girls be provided with recyclable pads that can be washed and reused to save costs," the teacher said, adding that many young girls also become overly self-conscious during their menstrual periods.
Area Member of Parliament, Mrisho Gambo, expressed gratitude to the benefactor for her efforts, emphasizing that sanitary pads are just as vital as books for girls attending secondary schools in Tanzania.
