FRIENDS of Tanzania living in India and the United Arab Emirates have started raising money to purchase and distribute sanitary pads for girl students attending schools in the remote parts of Arusha and other regions.

“The target is to distribute sanitary pads to more than 10,000 Tanzanian Girls,” revealed Arjun Kaur Mittal, who champions the special health campaign for female students through the initiative known as ‘Her Needs Tanzania.

Aged only 16, Arjun Mittal explained that the sanitary pads are specially meant for Tanzanian students from disadvantaged families in remote locations of Tanzania where many of the basic needs happen to be scarce.

 “Through funds raised from our friends and other good Samaritans in India and Dubai, we have managed to collect USD 60,000 for the cause,” added Ms Mittal, who previously studied in both India and the UAE, which explains how she managed to convince her friends there to support the mission.

To start with, they have distributed sanitary pads to 400 girls who are students of Mkonoo Secondary School in the Terrat Ward of Arusha, an occasion which went hand in hand with the provision of awareness training on the importance of using sanitary pads for girls, in ensuring health among young people.

 “Sanitary pads are extremely important in that they give female students the confidence of attending class at all times regardless of their menstrual conditions,” said Clara Kanuti a Form Four Student at Mkonoo Secondary School. 

According to Clara, free sanitary pads for girls’ students are as important as books; therefore the government and other education stakeholders should take that into consideration and supply those disposable hygiene towels to girls in schools.

Bernadetha Cosmas who teaches Biology at the Mkonoo School, admitted that many students have been missing classes during their monthly menstrual circles but once the sanitary tissues become readily available, the problem will be solved.

 “We are especially advising that the girls be provided with recyclable pads that can be washed and reused again to save costs,” said the teacher, adding that many young girls also become overly self-conscious during their menstrual periods.

Arusha Urban MP, Mrisho Gambo expressed gratitude to the benefactor for her mission, adding that sanitary pads were as vital as books for the girls attending secondary schools in Tanzania.