Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to infertility – expert warns

By Yamikani Sabola

A menstrual health facilitator under Mzimba North District Health Office, Justina Mgemezulu has warned that poor menstrual hygiene poses serious health risks in women and girls, including reproductive and urinary tract infections.

She said such infections can result in infertility and future birth complications.

Mgemezulu was speaking on Saturday when Ekwendeni Women Dawa Organisation (EWDO) conducted a sensitisation meeting on menstrual hygiene and distributed re-usable sanitary pads to women and adolescent girls in Mafuta Village, in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay.

She said poor menstrual hygiene is mostly fueled by lack of access to appropriate sanitary materials among women and girls.

“There is need for multi-sectoral interventions to ensure women and girls, particularly those who cannot afford to buy sanitary pads, are trained in making re-usable pads using locally found materials,” Mgemezulu said.

She said when women and girls have access to safe and affordable sanitary materials for managing their menses, the risk of catching reproductive and urinary tract infections is decreased.

Chief executive officer for EWDO, Marion Manda, said the sensitization meeting and distribution of re-usable sanitary pads was part of commemorations for World Menstrual Hygiene Day which fell on May 28 under the theme; ‘Together for Period Friendly World.’

Manda said the organisation noted that information and knowledge gaps is another factor leading to poor menstrual health and hygiene hence the need for a sensitization campaign.

“Lack of information and knowledge about menstruation leads to unhygienic and unhealthy menstrual practices as well as creation of misconceptions and negative attitudes which can motivate shaming and bullying,” she said.

One of the women in the village, Mercy Banda thanked EWDO for donating to them re-usable sanitary pads and sensitizing them about menstruation and dispelling some myths surrounding it.

She said one of the myths held in the village is that a woman menstruating should not be allowed to add salt to food as anyone partaking that food can fall sick.