In a bid to promote menstrual health and hygiene among girls in schools, Hajia Fati Seidu Tambro, the Executive Director of Sung Foundation, has called upon the government to reconsider taxing sanitary products.
In recent times, the cost of sanitary products has been on an upward trajectory, rendering them increasingly unaffordable for Ghanaian women and girls, particularly those in rural areas who struggle to access basic menstrual hygiene supplies.
Hajia Tambro made this earnest plea during an event at the Nangbagu Municipal Assembly Junior High School, where Sung Foundation, in partnership with funding from the Roddenberry Foundation, distributed sanitary pads to female pupils. The event aimed at raising awareness about menstrual hygiene coincided with the global celebration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
This significant day is observed on the 28th day of the fifth month of the year, corresponding to the average length of menstrual cycles (28 days) and the average duration of menstruation (five days). It serves as a global platform to emphasize the significance of menstrual care and to shed light on the challenges faced by those who lack access to sanitary products.
Hajia Tambro highlighted the alarming increase in the cost of sanitary products, which surged from GHc5 last year to GHc14 and GHc16 this year. This spike in prices has compelled women and girls, in some instances, to resort to using toilet rolls or pieces of cloth during their menstrual periods.
She underscored the grave consequences of this situation, as it often forces girls out of school or pushes them to employ unhygienic alternatives, potentially resulting in infections and infertility among young girls.
Amina Bawa, a student from Nangbagu Municipal Assembly Junior High School, shared a heart-wrenching personal experience. She revealed that she frequently skipped school during her menstrual periods due to an unfortunate incident where she stained her uniform, subjecting herself to teasing by some male classmates. This experience not only had a detrimental psychological impact on her but also affected her academic performance.
Mr. Halid Iddris, the Headmaster of Nangbagu Municipal Assembly Junior High School, who received the donated items on behalf of the school, echoed the gravity of the situation. He disclosed that some female students missed approximately a week of school each month because their parents could not afford sanitary pads for them.
The plea for tax relief on sanitary products is not just a call for affordability but also a step towards safeguarding the health and dignity of girls and women. In the quest for gender equality and female empowerment, addressing this issue is of paramount importance.
