Positioning MHM issues on Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
In 2020, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council began executing targeted programming which identified niche areas within the broader adolescent reproductive health. It was a deliberate re-orientation to attach limited resources and focus on menstrual health management (MHM) and sexual gender based violence. The idea was to ensure that the available resources be channeled to one area where impact would be attained.
By Herbert Chikosi
Inside ZNFPC programming, MHM is part of the overall efforts within Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) thus, based on the right and the ability of all individuals to decide over their bodies and to live healthy and productive lives. In light of this, ZNFPC is alive to the fact that addressing SRHR is thus key, to ensure sustainable development. The dialectical relationship between MHM and development is so pronounced. It has implications on the lives of girls and women related to health, education, work, mobility and security. In view of this, addressing MHM ensures agency for young girls and women to fully participate in the development trajectory.
Considering that MHM is the management of hygiene associated with the menstrual process that ensures women and adolescent girls are using a clean menstrual management materials to absorb or collect menstrual blood, that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of a menstrual period, using soap and water for washing the body as required, and having access to safe and convenient facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials. All in all, young girls and women understand the basic facts linked to the menstrual cycle and how to manage it with dignity and without discomfort.
In Zimbabwe, the following challenges motivated MHM programming;
- Lack of knowledge and appreciation of MHM and skills among grassroots level workers from health, education and parents,
- Unclear roles and responsibilities of stakeholders on the implementation of MHM education and training and lack of motivation among communities to tackle the subject (without further guidance).
In view of the above, it must be noted that failure to address MHM concerns might lead to vaginal infections with possible long-term effects on reproductive health. In many cases, girls will not attend school for the duration of their periods. Women will be constrained to pursue and maintain employment when they are not able to manage their menstruation in a hygiene manner at the work place. Taken together, this will affect the participation of women in productive work.
While there has been unanimous consensus all over the world that menstrual hygiene is fundamental to the dignity and wellbeing of women and girls, and an important part of basic hygiene, sanitation and reproductive health services. Little has been done to significantly bring MHM issues into the spotlight and that is of educating girls, women and men about women’s menstrual health and hygiene.
To set the orb rolling in positioning MHM in Zimbabwe, ZNFPC Masvingo Provincial office held an MHM symposium and policy dialogue under the theme, Taking action investing in Menstrual Health and Hygiene, at Chevron Hotel in Masvingo. The conference sought to address and creating an enabling environment through raising awareness and changing negative social norms around Menstrual Health Management. This was done by engaging decision-makers in a bid to increase the political priority and catalyze action for MHM, at national and local levels in wake of Covid 19 pandemic.
In his speech on the MHM symposium and policy dialogue, The Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira indicated that investment in MHM shapes the future direction of Zimbabwe despite a policy vacuum. He urged ZNFPC to assist and guide the government is shaping the policy process. The Minister promised to avail devolution funds towards MHM programming as well as pushing for MHM policy formulation.
However, he berated the lack of male involvement arguing that it is important to involve men in MHM and information giving especially community leaders whom he urged to be torchbearers. Furthermore, the minister highlighted his pleasure in the efforts that are being made in addressing MHM challenges to provide a solution pathway in creating an enabling environment that is more supportive and cares for ASRH at the family, community and institutional levels.
There was a consensus within the stakeholders that ZNFPC is doing a lot of good work in addressing menstrual health issues and should continue providing policy guidance and leadership. Stakeholders made important resolution including lobbying government to fund and formulate a clear policy that addresses MHM as a cross cutting issue.
The conference served as a platform to desiccate the nexus of MHM to development and devolution. Key stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Media, Ministry of Health and Child welfare (MOHCW), Plan International, Zimbabwe Association of Visually Handicapped (ZAVH), JF Kapneck and Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council representing the consortium members made presentations.