Giving girls back their dignity
“Menstruation is the basis of the human species and we don’t talk about it. We need to fight this discrimination; boys and girls need to have a clear understanding of how menstruation works.”This according to former teacher and founder of Ann Pads, Hermine Bertolini, who has converted the basement of her home into a small factory where six trained staff members have been making washable sanitary pads since 2018.
According to Bertolini, period poverty is a cruel reality for thousands of girls who cannot afford basic sanitary pads. As a result, they are forced to resort to unsafe and unhygienic methods such as using any available cloth, old T-shirts, socks and even newspapers. The result is that many girls stay out of school to avoid humiliation or any leaks.
If a girl stays out of school for a week every month in a trimester, it means she misses an entire month of school classes, says Bertolini.
Making a difference
With this in mind, Bertolini started Ann Pads to give back dignity to women and girls, especially those who are not fortunate enough to be able to afford a pack of disposable pads for each cycle.
“To address the lack of affordable sanitary pads, we decided to make and reintroduce washable pads at a cost of N$25 per pad. This is not a new thing and there is this misconception that it is only for the poor. Before the arrival of disposable pads that take years to disappear, we used washable pads,” said Bertolini.
She blames the country’s high teenage pregnancy rate and period poverty on a lack of education and has written a book, Anne’s Journey to Womanhood, to address this very issue and dispel myths related to the menstrual process.
While it is good to see both public and private institutions reaching out to donate disposable pads to underprivileged schoolgirls across the country, she says this is a short-term solution.
“I challenge donors to move away from this and instead consider a washable, durable and eco-friendly alternative that is freely available.”
Donation
Bertolini received a donation of a ton of refined salt from Walvis Bay Salt Refiners which she says can be used to disinfect the sanitary pa they manufacture.
“The user can leave it in water in which salt has been dissolved. While sunlight is still best, soap and salt can be used as alternatives. Salt removes stains, absorbs liquids easily and kills germs and bacteria. By using it together with lemon juice and vinegar, it becomes an even stronger cleaning agent,” Bertolini explained.
Ann Pads contain four sanitary napkins of different sizes and thicknesses to ensure the user only washes them four to five times a month.
“The main features of a good washable sanitary pad are moisture management and good absorbency. Our pads are made from high-quality materials and if well cared for, can easily be used for four or more years. We have also added a snap button so that the napkin does not move when the girl is active,” Bertolini said.
Walvis Bay Salt Refiners’ managing director, André Snyman, said the Namibian child is the main focus of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
“This is a small contribution to a huge need. All our projects focus on children and the request for help we received was according to these criteria,” he said.
For inquiries, Bertolini can be reached at 081 287 8516 or send an email to [email protected]