Matemwe in North Unguja has become the first village in Zanzibar to manufacture sanitary pads for women, compliments to a solar-powered machine from India.
“We are happy to produce the pads in the village, but we need to raise awareness because many women in the village still do not know how to use them,” said Ms Mwarimkufu Salim Abdallah.
Ms Abdallah and Ms Mwanapili Iddi are the latest graduates of “solar power rural electrification” from Bare Foot College in India, but they were lucky to be trained on pad making as well.
Ms Abdallah said that although they already have the knowledge and facilities to produce the pads, production has not started due to lack of market attributed to ignorance about using the pads in the village.
Both the Consular General of India, Mr Pawan Kumar and the Deputy Principal Secretary, Mr Msham Khamis appealed to the women manufacturing the pads to advertise their products to attract prospective users.
Studies show that many women, particularly girls in rural areas have no access to necessary personal hygiene products due to lack of money and little knowledge on the availability of the products.
It is expected that the production of a locally made pad will provide girls and women a low cost product and will also provide jobs. Without access to clean water, dangerous bacteria can grow on cloth pads and menstrual cups.
Imported pads are plastic, difficult to dispose of and expensive. Also without access to hygiene products girls miss many days of school in a month, causing them to fall behind in class.
By ISSA YUSSUF, Tanzania Daily News
