Executive Director for Girls to Women Foundation (G2WF) Hajia Mariam Iddrisu has called on government to reduce the 20 per cent tax on sanitary pads in the country to enable girls have easy access to them.
She noted that the natural process for young girls in the journey of monthly menstruation had been complicated by high cost of sanitary pads, forcing them to resort to other materials that are not hygienic. Hajia Mariam made the call at this year’s Global Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration at Kasulyili Senior High School in the Tolon District.
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is observed on May 28 each year. The day highlights the importance of menstrual care and raises awareness about the social issues faced by women during menstruation and those who don’t have access to sanitary products.
The day aims to bring together the voices and actions of non-profit, government agencies, individuals and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene for everyone around the world. It aims to break the silence, raise awareness and change the negative social norms around menstrual health and hygiene.
The day provides an opportunity to engage decision-makers and increase the political priority to catalyze action for menstrual health and hygiene at global, national, and local levels.
Speaking to female students of Kasuliyili Senior High School during the celebration, Hajia Mariam noted that as a natural phenomenon, menstruation is a significant component of women development and reproductive processes and it is crucial for government and decision makers to lighten the burden of the journey experienced by girls in the procurement and use of pads.
Hajia Mariam says the burden of accessing menstrual pads is driving some girls to exchange sex for money in many communities. She has urged stakeholders to support government by constructing changing rooms for girls to use in all schools in the country to enhance menstrual hygiene.
”It is sad that most of these vulnerable young girls who cannot afford a sanitary pad sometimes have to request for money from men, who in return demand sex from them which results in teenage pregnacies”, she said.
She further called on households to support their partners and girl children in managing household chores during menstruation and encouraged traditional authorities and community leaders to help demystify menstruation by crating enabling environment for positive attitudes towards menstruating girls and women. This years’ celebration is on the theme, ”Making Menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030”.
Hajia Maraim who is also a former MCE for Sagnarigu Municipality says the media plays a key role in addressing the issues of menstrual hygiene, and has however appealed to the media to wake up and take up the responsibility.
Source: zaanews.com/Lilian D. Walter
