Our young women's health and the shining star of MP Peneza

First of all, we in the Diaspora, salute efforts of Parliamentarian Upendo Furaha Peneza. In June 2018 the ease of free sanitary pads for our school girls was made possible thanks to her political outspokenness. Many others have also contributed like the Msichana Initiative founded by Rebecca Gyumi. Comments on social media, have expressed this victory. Most times when a known individual is discussed online, there are divergent views. Some nasty and insulting, others endearing and praising. In Upendo‘s case, majority are on her side.

This is because we have a just cause, as serious as the plight of 200 million young females undergoing FGM, worldwide, including nineteen Tanzanian regions. You Tube channel, for example, had a female fan who asked for Ms Peneza’s account number so she could send her money for her car’s petrol. Hilarious but shows the appreciation. Sometimes magic happens from uncertain corners. You hardly hear about a remote place called Geita and suddenly a heroine has emerged from there.

Now.

While living overseas it is not easy to follow all issues happening in the country. Even if one is very interested- certain matters (and news) go unnoticed.

I heard about Upendo Furaha Peneza while researching on the hazards of menstrual sanitary pads. There has been alarming news regarding the commonly used “Always” brand specifically. Traders and shopkeepers, please forgive me, but...read on.

In the course of my digging I stumbled upon a glowing article by the blogging giant, Huffing Post. Written in 2013 by Dr Joseph Mercola (author and physician), the piece warns about toxins in tampons. I had heard about Dioxin in particular, which may cause ovarian cancer. According to Dr Mercola: “Tampon and sanitary manufacturers are not required to disclose ingredients because feminine hygiene products are considered medical devices...”

I had been in a London health shop and encountered menstrual pads claiming to contain no harmful chemicals. As a parent I have always been interested in female health – even though this may not concern me directly.

I heard about Dioxin a few years ago. It is one of the chemicals found in sanitary pads. Apparently because women tend to prefer white pads which have a synthetic material to keep it in that angelic colour!

To counter, some healthy minded manufacturers have made the pads chemical free. They might be more expensive (for now) but are organic and natural.

One description says:

“The fibre in the absorbent pads that you use can cause cervical cancer. Sanitary pads are not purely made of cotton but ....cellulose gel...”

There is more alarming information.

But what is the point?

So I was researching and found things like Furan, a potentially dangerous chemical sprayed on cotton before it is harvested. The cotton pad does not hint anything.

Worrying information.

But we do not want to scare anyone. We do not want to antagonise our traders and business communities either. We just want to caution folks to be careful. The said, Dr Mercola for instance says, “only put things in your body that you would eat.” Meaning pads in females are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

I wanted to know how this topic is reported in mainstream East African media. I read on and finally came to something sinister. While the developed world is talking about chemicals in sanitary pads, Tanzania is still talking of school girls leaving school because of menstruation. It is like the way women used to fight to get paid during maternity leave. Or not being employed because they shall become pregnant and stop going to work.

That is how I bumped onto this young Geita lady. She was the 2018 voice of school girls and women. If our country was a place where heroes and heroines are immediately awarded prizes for valiant issues, Upendo deserves one.

According to statistics given in the Parliament in February 2018, quoting educational institutional sources the MP cited the year 2015, specifically. Of 9, 881 form one secondary school dropouts, 9, 337 were girls. And in form two, of 13,059 abandoning students, 12,000 were girls.

What else?

95 per cent of these girls could not handle period woes because of sanitary pads. This is the first time the issue has been openly discussed. In another TV interview in February, featuring the same MP Peneza, reminds how menstruation has always been a taboo subject- even within families. If girls are losing an average of 5 days of their studies, monthly, then there is a problem. Finally in June, the government accepted scrapping off 18 per cent VAT from sanitary pads. Fantastic feat; fantastic achievement.

... While that has been sorted out the next step will be to look deeper into women’s health. Many aspects need to be covered. These are the future mothers and leaders of our communities and nation.