Innovation hub gives back to Lethabong secondary school



Pupils from Lethabong secondary school in Soshanguve block F received 500 sanitary pads donated by innovation hub on Friday as part of a campaign to teach the girls about sexual related issues.

The main purpose of the campaign was to teach the young girls about sexual affairs which included issues like prevention of pregnancy, adolescent stage and other sexual affairs. Many girls aged between 13 and 19 miss a week of school every month, for lack of sanitary pads. The campaign featured guests from Soshanguve health centre that is base in the Soshanguve municipal offices, innovation hub and the health promotion organisation.

Meisie Selowa from the Soshanguve health promotion said they came to the school with a purpose of teaching the girls about their health, more especially their reproductive. She said their main target group is 15 to 19 years old girls as they need guidance in their adolescent stage.

“One of the reasons why South Africa has a very high rate of teenage pregnancy is because they do not about their sexual reproduction” said Selowa. The campaign was beneficiary to the pupils as they got an opportunity to ask some of the questions that are very confusing in their age.

One of the pupils Nankie Selekane from grade (16) from grade 10 said she benefited a lot with the campaign as she learnt how to handle certain sexual period that happens to females. She also said that she leant to be confidant and to be open with people.

The 500 pads descributed by the innovation hud came from donations basically from the public.

Tanyani Dawu, brand and communication coordinator of the innovation hub said the campaign gave hope to the young girls, “It has given them the opportunity to be free and not to feel shamed or embarrassed. They have their dignity back” she said.

Ngobeni Karabo (15), a student said the problem is that girls do not feel comfortable asking for this product, so in the presence of health promoters in their school helped them to get the product. She further said the campaign touched her to respect her body and go to the clinic if there are any strange sexual changes in her body. The sanitary pad is easy to use, easily accessible, and pretty straightforward.

The campaign was attended by girls who are from 15 to 18 years old. The campaign will continue to other schools as a way to give back to the community as it was the first one in Lethabong secondary school.