HER MAJESTY URGED SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH GIRLS CORNER FACILITIES IN SUPPORT OF GIRLS DURING MENSTRUATION

 Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso urged schools across the country to establish Girls Corner facilities where girls can rest during menstruation, discuss menstrual hygiene issues and support one another.

The Queen made the appeal during the commemoration of International Menstrual Hygiene Day held at Bethesda High School in Maphutseng.

Her Majesty said unlike some African countries she had visited; Lesotho still lags behind in providing proper facilities and support for girls during menstruation.

She said the celebration is not only about menstruation, but also about dignity, equality, education, health and hope for girls.

According to the Queen, no girl should feel embarrassed, discriminated against or suffer because of a natural biological process.

Her Majesty reminded the gathering that girls do not choose to menstruate, but it is part of God’s creation and therefore they deserve respect and support.

She said she launched awareness campaigns on menstrual health years ago through the Hlokomela Banana programme with support from development partners including UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund, World Vision Lesotho and the private sector.

The Queen expressed satisfaction that attitudes are gradually changing, noting that men and boys are now openly discussing menstrual health issues and offering support where needed.

She further commended World Vision Lesotho for assisting more than 20,000 girls with sanitary pads over the years, saying the support restores dignity and hope to girls who often miss school during menstruation.

Her Majesty appealed to all stakeholders to work together to ensure sanitary pads are accessible to every girl in need so that they can attend school with confidence.

She also welcomed progress towards the enactment of the National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Strategy 2025, expressing hope that the strategy would be fully implemented.

The Queen stressed the importance of investing in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools, saying poor sanitation negatively affects children’s academic performance and contributes to absenteeism.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Training Professor Ntoi Rapapa applauded the Queen for championing menstrual health issues across the country.

He urged parents to prioritise buying sanitary pads for girls and warned against accepting child marriages involving girls below the age of 18, saying their bodies and minds are not yet mature enough for family responsibilities.

Professor Rapapa said parents, children and elders should openly discuss menstruation from an early age so that girls are properly guided when they first experience menstruation.

On the other hand, Minister of Natural Resources Mr. Mohlomi Moleko pledged his ministry’s support in ensuring access to clean water in both rural and urban communities by 2030 through projects such as Metolong, the Greater Maseru Water Project and the Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project Phase III.

Mr. Moleko said access to water and sanitation is essential for girls to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation.

He added that discussions were ongoing with the Ministry of Education to identify schools without access to clean water so that assistance can be provided.

Speaking on behalf of World Vision Lesotho, Board Member Motlatsi Russel appealed to government, development partners, communities and families to ensure that menstruation does not become a barrier to education, dignity, health and opportunities for women and girls.

He said menstrual health and hygiene management is not only a hygiene issue, but also a matter of dignity, equality, child protection and human rights.

The event was attended by Deepak Bhaskan and other government officials.

International Menstrual Hygiene Day is commemorated annually on May 28 to raise awareness on the importance of proper menstrual hygiene and to break stigma surrounding menstruation. This year’s theme is “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”

Source: Lesotho News Agency [LENA]