Transforming Menstrual Hygiene in Rural Zimbabwe

“After joining the Community Health Club, I realized that I could stand up for myself and do something with my life”.

Joining the Community Health Club in her community of Amalima in rural Zimbabwe has been truly life changing for Esnath.

International Medical Corps’ Community Health Clubs are designed to strengthen awareness of proper sanitation and hygiene. They aim to encourage members to make practical improvements and adjustments within their homes and throughout their communities, as well as adopt hygienic practices, contributing to a healthier environment. They also encourage members to set up group saving schemes and businesses so that they can become financially secure and even invest in more hygienic and sanitary changes.

In November 2012, Esnath twisted her leg and fractured a bone whilst repairing a fence in her field. Sadly, her legs were paralysed. Now, she is limited to walking with crutches, and instead of a proper wheelchair, she uses a plastic yard chair to move around her compound. The accident also left her with impaired mobility of her right hand.

Subsequently, Esnath was forced to rely on her brother – who works in Bulawayo and is able to give her a bit of money – and the kindness of her neighbours to get by. Her husband had travelled to South Africa to look for work but hadn’t been able to find a steady source of income. She even had to sell valued personal items, like dresses and blankets, to make ends meet.

Worse still, Esnath was demoralised in her normal, day-to-day life.

“I felt like I couldn’t do anything and was spending a lot of time sitting around idle”. She couldn’t keep up farming, fetch water, or collect firewood. Even cooking over an open fire on the ground, as she had always done, was a painful task. She felt very disheartened.

However, Esnath was thrilled when her sister-in-law, Tshihomanana, offered to build her a clay stove that would allow her to sit while cooking. Tshihomanana told Esnath that she had learnt to build the stove after joining International Medical Corps’ Community Health Club in her local community. She encouraged Esnath to join her at the next training session – intrigued, Esnath decided to take Tshihomanana up on her offer.

The club did wonders for Esnath: “After joining the Community Health Club, I realised that I could stand up for myself and do something with my life”, she proudly states.

Her first training sessions in the club covered vital steps to improving hygiene that Esnath was capable of doing, including cleaning dishes.

But, more importantly, belonging to the club provided her with a special comradery with her co-members. They recognised her needs and pitched in to build Esnath a tippy-tap washing station, a private bathing area and a rubbish pit in her compound.

After the members graduated from the club, they decided to set up a savings and loan scheme to save for short term assets as well as pool resources for larger, higher-impact income generating activities.

Esnath has made plans to grow her small livestock herd, and is looking forward to becoming involved in poultry farming – the first activity of the new scheme. The club members even considered her accessibility needs when selecting where their chicken coop would be located.

Joining the Community Health Club has been a revelation for Esnath, with the support and friendship she has gained being central to lifting her spirits and giving her a fresh impetus. “The club has given me a purpose”, she says.

International Medical Corps wishes to extend its sincere thanks to its supporters in the GlobalGiving community, for supporting its Community Health Clubs and helping great women like Esnath.