Arusha.
More than 400 female students at Mkonoo Secondary School in Terat Ward, Arusha City, have received sanitary towels aimed at helping them stay comfortable and continue attending school during their menstrual periods.
The donation, made by 16-year-old Tanzanian philanthropist Arjun Kaur Mittal, who recently completed her studies in Dubai, specifically targets disadvantaged schoolgirls, aiming to improve their well-being and dignity during menstruation.
Ms. Mittal highlighted the challenges many female students face due to the lack of sanitary towels, often resulting in absenteeism and health issues. "Most girls do not have access to sanitary towels, which leads to them missing school out of shame. Those who cannot use sanitary napkins risk developing skin diseases due to the lack of clean and safe towels," she explained.
Working alongside colleagues abroad, Mittal decided to use the funds she has collected to assist these students. "With just 12,000 TShs, I can buy a dozen sanitary pads and support many girls in our community," she said.
"I will continue raising funds to support girls who lack access to pads. We need to ensure these young girls receive a proper education for a better future. Our goal is to raise 700 million TShs to buy sanitary pads and support around 10,000 girls across the country," she further added.
Supporting the initiative, Arusha Member of Parliament Mrisho Gambo emphasized the importance of this support, particularly for girls from the Maasai community and other disadvantaged groups who cannot afford sanitary towels. He noted that this initiative would help female students remain in school during their periods, thereby reducing absenteeism.
Receiving the sanitary pads on behalf of the school management, teacher Bernadetha Cosmas expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that the sanitary towels would enable the students to attend classes comfortably throughout the day. She also called on other stakeholders to come forward and provide more support.
"I encourage other stakeholders to support our female students because our school has special facilities for girls during their periods," she said.
