By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The City of Johannesburg has launched a free sanitary towel distribution programme for young girls aged between 10 and 19 across all municipal clinics, aimed at restoring dignity and improving health and education outcomes.
The programme was launched on Wednesday at the Bophelong Clinic in Doornkop, in Soweto.
Joburg MMC for Health and Social Development Ennie Makhafola described the initiative as “historic”, saying Johannesburg is the first municipality in South Africa to roll out a citywide sanitary towel distribution programme through public health facilities.
Makhafola called on other municipalities and spheres of government to follow suit in addressing period poverty.
“For the longest time, the dignity of a young black child has been neglected, and as the government of today, we are not going to be writing in those books where there’s no change,” Makhafola said.
She said the free sanitary towel programme gives effect to a council motion passed in 2018, which called for the provision of sanitary towels to young girls and women in the city.
Makhafola added that although the motion had existed for several years, it required strong political will to be implemented.
“More than anything, we know very well that menstruation is not a choice,” she said.
“It’s a natural process that happens to each and every woman, so we must never, at any point, neglect this.”
Since her appointment in February 2023, Makhafola has championed the initiative, ensuring its rollout across Johannesburg’s 76 municipal clinics.
She outlined that young girls will be required to present a birth certificate or identification document when collecting sanitary towels at clinics.
She added that the programme will also include menstrual health education and awareness campaigns.
Makhafola warned that the products are strictly not for sale and are intended solely for those in need.
A nurse by profession, Makhafola highlighted the impact of period poverty on education, which motivated her to push for the programme’s implementation.
“I teach them about substance abuse and teenage pregnancies. One of the concerns raised by these children was not being able to attend school during their menstrual days,” she said.
She said access to sanitary towels must be ensured, and that the programme aims to eliminate barriers to schooling, reduce stigma around menstruation, and promote the dignity of young girls.
“Providing sanitary towels to girls between the ages of 10 and 19 is an investment in their education,” she said.
“It is an investment in their health and an investment in the future economic participation of girls.”
INSIDE METROS