Safe Menstruation Movement (SAMMO), on May 28, 2022 as part of the Menstrual Hygiene Day marked annually, donated 700 packs of disposable pads, 50 pieces of reusable sanitary pad, 16 packs of exercise books and 6 boxes of pens to four schools in Nyariga.
The schools include Nyariga Doone Girls’ Junior High School, Nyariga Doone Primary School, Nyariga MA JHS and Nyariga La JHS.
The Saturday event to mark this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day which was under the theme “making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030”, brought together, parents, students and teachers as they sort to raise awareness on the importance of good menstrual hygiene practices and the need for all stakeholders to play their respective roles in ensuring girls live decently.
SAMMO in observing the Menstrual hygiene day in Nyariga noted that, for the country to meet its targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 and 6 which enjoin nations to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education as well as availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation, communities like Nyariga require special attention because of the existence of period poverty.
While reiterating earlier calls for the 20% luxury tax slapped on sanitary pad to be scrapped, the President of Safe Menstruation Movement, Nsobuno Paul also made a passionate appeal to teachers to take keen interest in menstrual hygiene education.
He also urged parents and guardians to show interest in providing menstrual education and the basic needs of their wards including sanitary pad.
“At this juncture, I wish to call on government to take steps to scrap the luxury tax on sanitary pads and also provide facilities which are gender friendly and changing rooms in our schools.
We also call on teachers to take keen interest in menstrual hygiene education and make time to educate and inform our girls on their menstrual health.
Parents and guardians are the people that spend most time with children and we expect that they will show much interest in providing menstrual education and the basic needs of their wards including sanitary pads”. He entreated.
It will be recalled that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), prior to the 2020 elections pledged in its manifesto to remove the 20% luxury tax slapped on sanitary towels. Two-years after President Nana Addo got the mandate to lead for the next four years, the government is yet to follow through with its promise.
