Dear Portfolio Committee on Health,

President of South Africa Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa

Secretary of RSA Parliament Mr Xolile GEORGE

Speaker of RSA Parliament Ms Thoko Didiza



I am writing to you about a serious problem that we are facing as South Africans.

Our Constitution the Bill of Rights states:



27. Health care, food, water and social security

1. Everyone has the right to have access to ­

a. health care services, including reproductive health care;

b. sufficient food and water; and

c. social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents, appropriate social assistance.

2. The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights.

3. No one may be refused emergency medical treatment.

10. Human dignity

Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.



29. Education

1. Everyone has the right ­

a. to a basic education, including adult basic education; and

b. to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.

2. Everyone has the right to receive education in the official language or languages of their choice in public educational institutions where that education is reasonably practicable. In order to ensure the effective access to, and implementation of, this right, the state must consider all reasonable educational alternatives, including single medium institutions, taking into account ­

a. equity;

b. practicability; and

c. the need to redress the results of past racially discriminatory laws and practices.

3. Everyone has the right to establish and maintain, at their own expense, independent educational institutions that ­

a. do not discriminate on the basis of race;

b. are registered with the state; and

c. maintain standards that are not inferior to standards at comparable public educational institutions.

4. Subsection (3) does not preclude state subsidies for independent educational institutions.



Our girls are facing a dilemma regarding their human dignity and access to healthcare and education. Many of our girls are not attending school because they do not have sanitary pads. These basic rights to education, healthcare and human dignity have been affected, when they are unable to attend school because of a menstrual cycle. Yes, there are many organizations who provide pads to young girls but this can be solved through a national campaign to get those pads in schools and health institutions, so that girls have access to these items and be able to protect their dignity.

Here is a personal testimony of something I went through and until recently did not realize the impact of that experience:

Years ago, I worked in a town. There was a young girl who had gone through quite a traumatic experience and was diagnosed with HIV. Her mother was a healthcare worker and we lived together in a communal home for healthcare workers. Within this home, we had a communal washing machine, which cost R5 for a washing cycle, this meant that as residences we would often share a washing cycle. One day, her mother asked if we could share a cycle together and I said yes, later I discovered there had been blood stained clothes within the washing, as the girl had to stay home, because they could not afford to buy pads for her. At the time I thought nothing of it and told the mother, it was fine, we all go through these moments, then learning she was HIV positive gave me a shock but I comforted them and said it was okay and I am okay. Yesterday when I witnessed some girls receiving free pads, this experience came to remembrance. It is not a story I share lightly, as at the time sharing the story seemed like an invasion of their privacy. Today as I reflect on it, I wonder how many girls have gone through the same thing or something similar.

I strongly feel, our government should take up this issue seriously because girls not having access to sanitary pads in situations like this impact the rights of women, who are members of society. I request that either legislation or campaigns be instituted to protect the dignity of young girls within society. Lastly I would like to address the Members of the National Assembly on this matter.



Thank you

Karabo Monatisi

National Leader of Sanitary Pads Campaign

cptkarabo@gmail.com

081 421 5983