|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Muguta Secondary School students received a generous donation of sanitary wear from School Run Shuttle, an organization led by Nancy Mufudza and Epworth North Member of Parliament, Zivai Mhetu.
The donation, which provided all female students with two packets of sanitary pads each, ballpoint pens, and exercise books was aimed at tackling period poverty and ensuring that girls do not miss school due to menstrual health challenges.
The event, attended by over 165 students and 20 teachers, brought joy and relief to the beneficiaries.
“We previously relied on unhygienic materials, like cloths, that posed health risks, so this donation is a huge relief. Many of us struggle to afford proper sanitary wear, but now we can focus on our studies without the fear of missing school due to our periods,” said one of the grateful students.
Wearing unhygienic materials like dirty or nonabsorbent clothes during menstruation can lead to various infections and diseases.
These include bacterial infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and urinary tract infections (UTIs), which occur due to the growth of harmful bacteria in a moist environment.
Fungal infections like candidiasis (yeast infection) can also develop due to prolonged dampness and poor ventilation.
Mhetu highlighted the importance of empowering young girls through education and self-reliance.
“A girl child should be independent so that she can take care of herself and her family in the future. If she finds a supportive husband, that’s a bonus, but the main goal is to help her stand on her own,” he said.
The event was held under the slogan, “Girl Child, The Sky Is The Limit, Girl Child Be Empowered.”
The MP also spoke about Education 5.0, a government-driven initiative focusing on innovation, industrialisation, and modernisation in education.
“Girls should be encouraged to value education as a pathway out of extreme poverty. With dedication and creativity, they can contribute meaningful solutions to national challenges,” he added, highlighting the need for medical innovations, such as reducing the pill burden for HIV patients or even discovering a cure.
Nancy Mufudza, the founder of School Run Shuttle, urged students to work hard and make their parents proud.
She engaged the students in a discussion about their future aspirations.
“I want to join the army and help combat drug and substance abuse in my community,” said one student.
Another shared, “I want to become a doctor so I can help girls in my community and provide medical care for women.”
The school’s headmaster Mr N.Kanyerere expressed gratitude for the donations, highlighting the need for continued support.
Mhetu also had a brief meeting with the Headmaster, members of the teaching staff, and some members of the (SDC) to deliberate on the challenges the school is facing. During the meeting with Mhetu, Constance Kambunga, the Vice Chair of the School Development Committee (SDC), raised concerns over the school’s ongoing challenges, including the lack of electricity in the school office, broken down school vehicle, non-payment of school fees, high staff turnover due to bad road that leads to Muguta Secondary and the withdrawal of financial support for 16 students by the NGO Mavambo.
She also highlighted that BEAM, which supports three-quarters of the students, had not made payments since 2022.
“We are struggling to keep the school running. School staff, including caretakers, groundskeepers, and other support personnel, have not received their salaries for four months, and the infrastructure is deteriorating.
In response, Mhetu acknowledged the challenges and provided updates on efforts to address some of the raised problems.
“We have acquired a ZETDC quotation for the electrification process and have already sent a requisition to the Treasury for funding. I am also in discussions with the Ministry of Transport and the provincial road administrator to repair the roads leading to the school,” Mhetu stated.
“I understand that security is a major concern. We will work with ELB to secure land for proper school grounds,” he added.
On financial assistance, Mhetu expressed his commitment to engaging the business community to support students who lost their sponsorship from Mavambo.
He also assured the school that he had been advocating for BEAM payments in Parliament and was awaiting feedback.
To further support the school, he announced plans for a fundraising initiative to facilitate solar power installation, acquire a school vehicle, purchase stationery, and construct a boundary wall.
“The school has the potential to thrive if we all play our part. We need income-generating projects, and I will engage the Minister of Agriculture to ensure the school benefits from the Presidential Agricultural Scheme,” Mehta said.
Additionally, he supported the headmaster’s proposal for court-mandated community service labor to assist with the school’s nutritional garden.
