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Writes Liapeng Raliengoane
LESOTHO, Quthing – Parents from Mphaki area agree that they do not talk to their children about menstruation due to several reasons including cultural norms and fear of talking about sex-related matters.
An interview with the Ministry of Health Lesotho Adolescent Health Program Manager ‘Mathato Nkuatsana revealed that there is a huge gap between parents and children because parents avoid speaking about menstruation with them.
She indicated that she had observed a good thing about the Mphaki area and it is the fact that there is a flowing coordination between community leaders including chiefs, village health workers, and the community at large.
“Data shows that Quthing district ranks higher in numbers of early and unintended pregnancies. On the first day which was allotted for parents agreed that indeed EUP is higher in Mphaki while the second day allocated for adolescents agreed that EUP is higher in their district,” she said.
Nkuatsana highlighted that Mphaki was chosen because numbers reveal that there is a challenge of high early and unintended pregnancies.
She urged parents to talk to their children about menstruation.
“Our work as the ministry of health is among others, to facilitate health promotion, provide peer to peer education, whereby the youth go all out to talk to other young people about health issues.”
National Program Analyst Maseretse Ratia highlighted the importance of both the dialogue and preceding days of menstrual health capacitation. “The purpose was to make adolescents aware and knowledgeable about menstrual health and hygiene. And while talking to adolescents, we have learned that many boys do not understand menstruation but after these days of capacitation, they will be knowledgeable.”
“We had the discussion with parents on the first day and the majority of them agreed that they do not talk to their children, both boys and girls, about menstruation,” Ratia said.
An exclusive interview with adolescents revealed that having had the chance to talk about menstrual health came in handy.
Tebello Lekote from Auplas village expressed that she learned about contraceptives because as they grow up, they come across many challenges, and using family planning will help them overcome some of them.
On the issue of menstruation, she said she learned about cleanliness, and how to keep herself hygienic while on her periods.
“I learned that since we do not have pit latrines in our village, we must keep our environment clean by digging pits, putting used sanitary napkins, and covering them so that animals may not have access to them and to keep our environment clean.”
Lekote further disclosed that she learned that in cases where they are engaging in sexual activities and condoms burst, it is their right to seek morning-after pills at the health facilities.
Also, from Auplas village, Kelibone Lesenyeho said as young girls, they learned how they can protect themselves from early and unintended pregnancies by using family planning methods. “We also learned how to use sanitary napkins properly, bearing in mind the hours we should not exceed using one pad.”
UNFPA Lesotho is actively working to address period poverty and improve menstrual health through several key initiatives:
Menstrual Health Education: UNFPA Lesotho promotes menstrual health education to dispel myths and reduce stigma. This helps ensure that girls and women understand menstruation as a natural and healthy process.
Access to Menstrual Products: They work to provide access to affordable and high-quality menstrual products.
Improving Sanitation Facilities: UNFPA advocates for better sanitation facilities in schools and communities to ensure that women and girls can manage their menstruation with dignity and comfort.
Policy Advocacy: They support policies aimed at eliminating period poverty, such as removing taxes on menstrual products and ensuring that menstrual health is included in national health strategies.
These efforts are part of UNFPA’s broader commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Lesotho.