Urges FG to eliminate taxes on menstrual products
The FAB Treasure Foundation has urged the Federal Government to integrate menstrual hygiene management (MHM) into the national schools’ curriculum to eliminate the stigma and misinformation currently surrounding menstruation and ensure openness.
The foundation, which highlighted the need to deploy sustainable solutions to tackle period poverty in the country, advocated the production of low-cost, reusable sanitary products to make them accessible.
Period poverty is a harsh reality for many Nigerian women and girls. The inability to afford menstrual products affects their physical health, education, confidence, and dignity.
About 37 million women and girls experience period poverty and are unable to access or afford menstrual products like pads and tampons, pain medication and underwear.
The situation presently is worsened by the rising cost of menstrual products, which has forced many to resort to the use of unsanitary alternatives like cloth rags, leaves, or newspapers, thereby exposing them to infections.
The foundation’s Executive Director, Ms Abigail Festus, told The Guardian that menstruation is one of the most defining aspects of a girl’s life, which marks the beginning of her journey into womanhood that should be met with guidance, care, and understanding.
She regretted that for many young girls, this transition is far from smooth and instead of support, they encounter silence, stigma, and shame, leaving them to navigate this significant phase alone.
Festus said: “It is heartbreaking that something as essential as a sanitary pad remains out of reach for so many girls, forcing them to resort to unsafe alternatives or miss out on opportunities like going to school.
“Growing up, menstruation was rarely discussed. The whispers and myths surrounding it created confusion and fear. Many of us didn’t have access to sanitary pads, relying instead on makeshift and unsafe materials. I saw firsthand how some of my peers would skip school out of embarrassment or fear of being stained, while others fell victim to infections caused by unhygienic practices.
“Fifteen years later, I see that the same struggles persist. This harsh reality drives my passion for educating young girls about menstrual health and hygiene management,” she said.
Festus stated that countries like Kenya and Scotland have already implemented nationwide programmes to provide free sanitary products to girls.
She observed that Scotland has made menstrual products freely available in schools, colleges, and universities. At the same time, Kenya introduced the Menstrual Health Management policy, which ensures that girls have access to menstrual products and hygiene education in public schools.
Festus said that the government could step in by allocating budgets for free sanitary supplies and eliminating taxes on menstrual products to significantly reduce the cost of these products and make them more accessible to girls and women.
She argued that free distribution of sanitary pads to girls in schools and rural areas should become a government initiative and appealed to the government to provide sanitary pads to girls in secondary schools, particularly in underserved communities, where many girls miss school or use unsafe alternatives due to the lack of menstrual products.
Festus stated that menstruation isn’t a biological process as it impacts every aspect of a girl’s life, adding that when girls are uninformed or not supported, it leads to misinformation and dangerous practices.
To address this, she called for menstrual education in communities, especially in rural areas. “Education breaks the stigma surrounding menstruation and helps individuals understand it as a natural biological process. This supportive environment ensures girls no longer face shame or isolation during their periods.
“We need to involve parents in this effort. Parents must begin to see sanitary products as necessities, and not luxuries. By prioritising menstrual products as a family essential, they can help their daughters maintain their dignity, continue their education, and thrive.
“Menstruation is a natural, unavoidable biological process, unlike condoms, which are used by choice. Pads are essential for maintaining hygiene and dignity; they are not a luxury item. Making them freely accessible is not just about hygiene; it is about ensuring that no girl is left behind or has to face stigma, health challenges, or educational disruptions because of her biological reality”.
According to her, the foundation is equipping young girls in secondary schools and rural communities with accurate knowledge about menstruation, breaking the cycle of misinformation and stigma.
MEANWHILE, the foundation, in partnership with the Girl Force Movement and Builders House Free School Foundation, hosted the yearly SHEROSE Conference as part of the International Day of the Girl Child at the Mater Misericordiae Secondary School Nyanya, FCT. The conference brought together young girls from various schools across the region to inspire, educate, and empower them in their journey toward a brighter future.
The Executive Director, Centre Stage Company, Dr Naomi Osemedua, who spoke on ‘Maximising Your Full Potential and Dying Empty”, emphasised the importance of recognising one’s unique gifts and using them to make a meaningful impact in the world.
She encouraged young girls to pursue their passions wholeheartedly and leave no untapped potential.
Also, the founder of The Girl Force Movement, Winifred Ereyi, reminded the girls that achieving greatness requires consistency and commitment. “It’s about showing up every day, even when it’s tough,” she said.
“Pushing through obstacles takes grit, but it also leads to success. Dream big and work hard – your future is bright.”
A major highlight of the conference was the award of over N1.8 million in scholarships to 18 young girls struggling to pay their school fees. The heartfelt responses from scholarship beneficiaries underscored the profound impact of this support.
“I feel like I have been given a second chance,” said Kelvin Lucy from People’s Comprehensive Academy, Nyanya, one of the scholarship recipients. “This opportunity means everything to me. It will help me continue my education and fulfil my dreams.”
