JABAR EKSPRES – UNICEF Indonesia is encouraging the government to provide proper toilet facilities in schools to provide comfort to menstruating schoolgirls.
“Every four to five hours, they have to change their sanitary napkins, but because the sanitation facilities at school are not adequate, they don’t change their sanitary napkins,” said UNICEF Indonesia Wash Specialist, Muhammad Zainal, at an event entitled #WeAreCommitted to “Reproductive Health for every Child”, in Jakarta, Monday (29/5).
Muhammad Zainal added that the students are reluctant to use the toilet at school to change pads because they feel uncomfortable.
In fact, the behavior of rarely changing pads risks causing skin irritation, skin diseases, and can even affect the occurrence of cervical cancer.
Muhammad Zainal said that a proper toilet has several requirements, including being separated between male and female toilets, there is a mirror in the toilet, the toilet has a lock, is equipped with water and soap, and has a closed trash can.
“The toilet must be separated (male and female), the toilet must have a mirror inside, can be locked from the inside, make sure nothing leaks, there is water, soap, and there is a closed trash can,” he said.
He said that toilets that do not meet the eligibility requirements are often found in schools in eastern Indonesia.
“In NTT, NTB, Papua we find many (inadequate school toilets). In Java, there are still villages with inadequate school toilets,” said Muhammad Zainal.
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