Govt Calls on Private Sector to Help End Period Poverty

The country’s private sector has been urged to take a greater role in ending period poverty, with the government warning that the country cannot continue relying on international donors to provide menstrual products for girls.

Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said menstrual health should be treated as a national development issue rather than a concern affecting women and girls alone.

She was speaking at the launch of the National Menstrual Health Education Package and the Zero Taboo game where she called for greater collaboration between government, businesses, families and communities.

“No man out there should think this is a woman issue. This is an economic issue,” Mutsvangwa said.

She said countries seeking sustainable economic growth had to address gender equality and empower women and girls.