CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY DOMINATES MENSTRUAL HEALTH INDABA

By Precious Mupenzi

• The absence of a designated lead department and weak provincial structures are affecting the Sanitary Dignity Programme’s impact. A call was made to define leadership and strengthen coordination frameworks.
• A Call for Dignity and Systemic Change: Interventions should be inclusive, focusing on access and dignity, reducing stigma, and supporting girls with disabilities and those in remote areas.
• Dr Dube discussed the need for better procurement processes, awareness campaigns, and documenting effective models to encourage broader adoption. Development partners committed to ongoing support to implement the recommendations.

A strong consensus emerged at the Menstrual Health and Sanitary Dignity Indaba, held in Sandton on 30 May 2025: government departments must be held accountable and work in a more coordinated manner to ensure that every girl in South Africa has access to menstrual health products and dignified sanitation—regardless of her background or circumstances.
Delivering the closing remarks, Dr Andile Dube, Education Manager for Quality and System Strengthening at UNICEF, acknowledged the strong political will and interdepartmental participation at the one-day session. However, she cautioned that visible commitment must translate into meaningful action that reaches girls in schools, communities, and households.
“It’s heartening to see departments engaging at this level,” Dr Dube said. “But we cannot allow enthusiasm to mask the reality that girls are still being left behind because systems are not functioning as they should.”
A key concern raised was the lack of clear departmental leadership for the Sanitary Dignity Programme. Dr Dube noted that without a designated lead agency, implementation remains fragmented, further constrained by underperforming provincial structures and unspent budgets. She emphasised the importance of clarifying leadership roles and strengthening mechanisms to foster shared accountability across the government.
She recommended urgent review and reinforcement of coordination structures at both national and provincial levels, backed by a defined accountability framework. Inclusive programming was also highlighted as a priority—particularly for girls with disabilities and those in remote or marginalised communities. “Our interventions must go beyond access to pads; they must promote dignity, equity, and systemic change,” she said.
Dr Dube also emphasized the need for improved procurement systems and the removal of supply chain bottlenecks to ensure timely delivery of products to beneficiaries. She called for greater investment in awareness campaigns to dismantle menstrual stigma, noting the vital roles of parents, teachers, and caregivers in creating supportive environments.
“Schools and communities must become safe, informed spaces. But caregivers need support and education to help break the silence and shame surrounding menstruation,” she explained.
In addition, she encouraged the documentation and sharing of successful models and inspiring stories to drive broader adoption. “We need to highlight what’s working—so that others can replicate and scale it. Every girl must benefit.”
Dr Dube concluded with a powerful reminder: menstrual health is not merely a hygiene issue—it intersects with education, gender equality, health, and human rights.
“The question we must all ask is: how are we using our positions to ensure that no girl is excluded simply because of her period?”
The Indaba concluded with the Department of Basic Education confirming that a comprehensive report outlining the outcomes and recommendations from the dialogue will be shared with stakeholders in the coming weeks. Development partners, including UNICEF, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting long-term, sustainable change.