Spar Launches Campaign For Menstrual Hygiene DAY

From Wednesday, 28 May, designated as Menstrual Hygiene Day worldwide, SPAR will support menstrual health for women by ensuring that, for under R100 per year (on average R6 per month), girls and women can access sanitary towels at SPAR stores throughout South Africa, says Mpudi Maubane, National PR, Communications and Sponsorships Manager at The SPAR Group. 

The offer will continue until further notice, says Maubane, stressing that the objective is part of SPAR's commitment to helping promote the dignity of all South African women by working to bring an end to period poverty by 2030.

"Presently, about 30% of the nation's girls miss school regularly because they can't afford menstrual hygiene products. Each girl misses about 50 days of schooling a year, placing her at a learning disadvantage. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of basic sanitation and toilets in more than 1 700 schools, where shortages of running water and soap are also common," says Maubane. 

"We are dedicated to implementing practical interventions by making sanitary products affordable and easily accessible. At the same time, we support ongoing efforts to normalise conversations around menstruation, a subject often avoided or regarded as taboo in many sectors of society," adds Maubane. 

As a community-based retailer, SPAR says it is committed to supporting the health and dignity of all women and girls.

Breaking the stigma requires the involvement of everyone. SPAR is determined to lead the way by promoting discussions about what is a natural feminine function. SPAR aims to do this by fostering understanding and support and finding ways to address the issues of period poverty in schools and workplaces, says Maubane.

"By enabling girls and women, especially those who face financial challenges, to buy quality pads at a price that will fit even the tightest household budgets, SPAR South Africa is proud to be fostering the development of an inclusive society in which women can take their rightful places without being held back by something as natural as menstruation," concludes Maubane.

For more information, visit www.spar.co.za. You can also follow The SPAR Group on Facebook.

*Image courtesy of contributor