By Mbali Vilakati
MBABANE – Days for Girls (DfG) continues their fight to eradicate period poverty in Eswatini to ensure a period-friendly world.
Yesterday (May 28, 2028), three newly constructed, girl-friendly toilets were handed over at Mabasa Primary School to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day. The toilet is called a menstrual cycle toilet. The project was made possible through the US Embassy in Eswatini Ambassador’s Special Self Help and DfG.
Speaking to Eswatini TV, DfG Program Officer, Puleng Sithebe said the menstrual cycle toilet is different from an ordinary toilet as it is well ventilated, allowing enough air inside for it not to smell. The toilet also has space to put backpacks and bags as female students and teachers change their sanitary pads. “The toilet is in a confined space so that no one can see them when they are changing their pads. It is a place where the girl child can get comfortable in,” explained Sithebe.
Also present at the handover was the Embassy Representative Annie Newton who emphasized on the importance of speaking about menstruation. “It is sometimes taboo to talk about sanitary kits or menstrual cycles, and many girls feel embarrassed discussing it. This shame often leads to using unsanitary and unpleasant substitutes for menstrual pads. We are grateful to Days for Girls and the Mabasa Primary Community for working together to eliminate this shame, providing knowledge and privacy for girls to focus on their studies without missing school during their periods,” Newton said.
During the launch of the menstrual cycle toilet, DfG got the opportunity to educate about things like what it means to have menstruation, why women go through menstruation and what happens during menstruation.
