Daily Chronicle
Coalition of non-profit organisations have urged the government to subsidise and possibly un-tax the menstrual pad to improve the menstrual hygiene of women and girls in the country.
The organisations had formed a movement tagged “Untax My Menstrual Pad” to advocate for the danger associated with skyrocketed prices of modern menstrual pad. The group feared that women and girls might go down with avoidable diseases emanating from alternatives to menstrual pad.
Some of the NGOs include; Kairos Initiative, Al-Wadata Lifeline Initiative, Attah Sisters Helping hands Foundation, Child is Gold Foundation and others. At the end of a three-day stakeholders meeting recently in Bauchi, the coalition in a communique resolved to demand for subsidised and untaxed menstrual pad.
A news item by Guardian Newspaper monitored by our correspondent said that the groups agreed to sensitise rural and urban communities in Bauchi state on the prevention of stigmatisation of the girl child particularly during menstrual cycle and when abused. To support and encourage survivors to ensure no girl misses school because of menstrual pain through capacity building and provision of first pad banks in all schools.
Also to “advocate to the ministry of education and ministry of health to ensure there is a policy on pad and free distribution for schools as a way of reducing number of girls who miss school during their menstrual period. Advocate to schools and community heads on the importance of a menstrual stigma free society.
“Advocate to the policy makers to influence great policies on menstrual hygiene management in the state. Support in the distribution of free sanitary pads in all schools for all girl child in Bauchi state within the menstrual cycle age. Sensitisation of women and girls on menstrual hygiene management in schools and communities within Bauchi state.”