Tumaini Initiative

Zanzibar Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Situation Analysis

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) management is vital to the empowerment and well-being of girls and women and constitutes an essential requirement for personal hygiene, reproductive health, dignity, and prosperity for girls and women. Proper MHH management is still limited as school girls are struggling to use sanitary pads due to lack of awareness, limited availability, accessibility, and affordability of sanitary pads, sociocultural conditions, beliefs and norms, and gender roles on menstruation. Other limiting factors include the availability of teachers oriented on MHH and insufficient MHH infrastructure and services in schools. The literature review shows that only a few (28.1%) of school girls have MHH knowledge (Zanzibar, 28.4%, Mainland Tanzania 87.8%, PWD 2.2%). All these limitations lead to school girls having low self-esteem, reduced school attendance, and reduced attentiveness contributing to low academic performance of the school girls.

ZMBF Strategic Goal

S05

Improved access to sexual and reproductive health and menstrual hygiene

ZMBF’s Achievements

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The First Lady has actively led communities in promoting well-being, healthy lifestyle, and prevention of non-communicable diseases in all Regions of Unguja and Pemba through the renowned end-of-the-month walk.

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Has built the capacity of 160 GBV survivors, families, and other stakeholders and 80 GBV Shehia committee members on reporting GBV cases to the authorities and following up on the GBV cases through court procedures

ZMBF seeking to achieve

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To conduct quarterly Mariam Mwinyi Walkathon in conjunction with Afya Bora Maisha Bora medical camp in a different region of Unguja or Pemba per quarter.