By Danhassan Abubakar
Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) has passed the first ever bill for the establishment of sanitary pad banks in schools, correctional facilities and community centres across Bauchi State.
Speaking after the passage of the bill, Speaker of the House Right Honourable Abubakar Y. Suleiman congratulated partners that include:Women for Women International (WfWI), ASHH Foundation, Child is Gold Foundation and other CSOs for their tenacity, commitment and dedication in advocacies leading to the passage of the bill.
The speaker expressed his optimism on the positive impact the bill will have in the lives of indigent adolescent girls and women that could not afford sanitary pads during their menstrual periods.
Speaking on the side with our correspondent, Chairman House Committee on Health Hon. Lawal Dauda said that Bauchi State is first State in the country to pass such bill.
Hon. Dauda said that the establishment of the free sanitary pad banks will no doubt address some of the challenges associated with menstrual hygiene management and checkmate absenteeism in schools by indigent adolescent girls, women and female inmates during their menstrual periods.
Hon. Dauda thanked his colleagues for their support in the passage of the bill.
“This bill, the first of its kind in Nigeria, enjoyed tremendous support by all honourable members of this house. As you can see, we are on recess, but were called back just to pass the bill. That is a clear demonstration of support and commitment by the leadership of the house and the honourable members”, said the house committee chairman on health.
Speaking on the sidelines with our correspondent, the visibily elated Executive Director (ED) of ASHH Foundation, Ambassador Comfort Attah, expressed her gratitude to Bauchi State Government, the State Legislature, Women for Women International, Child is Gold Foundation and all the CSOs that championed the passage of the bill.
Attah said that though the bill is passed, it not yet uhuru until His Excellency the Executive Governor has signed it into law.
She stressed that CSOs are ready to partner with Government in the effective and efficient implementation of the sanitary pad banks system in the state.
“I want to say this without any fear of contradiction that our Governor will assent this bill. The Government of His Excellency Senator Bala Mohammed has created enabling environment for partners and CSOs intervention in Bauchi State. This bill, being the first ever in the whole of the country, is a huge credit to the Bauchi State Government under the dynamic leadership of our Governor”, said Attah.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Child is Gold Foundation Elizabeth George said that the passage of the bill is another milestone and landmark achievement for CSOs working on women related issues.
George, who could not hide her joy described the day as, “a day for the indigent adolescent girls in primary, secondary schools, women in their respective communities and incarcerated women in correctional facilities. Mentrual hygiene management will no longer impedes attendance in school. There will be proper mentrual hygiene management also in correctional facilities and even at community level”.
George thanked WfWI for the technical and financial support leading to the passage of the bill.