May 31, 2021
Albert Baron Ansu
First Lady Fatima Bio has disclosed that President Julius Maada Bio has pledged to provide budgetary support to the free distribution of sanitary pads to schools across the country. The first lady was speaking on BBC on Friday, marking International Menstrual Hygiene Day.
She disclosed that her initiative had all along been funded by donations from well-wishers supportive of work but now the government has been commitment to provide budgetary allotment to a worthy course. The actual quantum of money to be set aside for this initiative is yet to be disclosed.
Fatima Bio disclosed that girls have been dropping out of school owing to the embarrassment of not affording sanitary pads during their menses, noting that it has been taboo subject that she dared to confront in protecting the rights of the girl child.
The First Lady said that here engagement is an extension of the Hands off our Girls Campaign that has attracted global attention and even gained traction among men who had hitherto being non-committal to the issue.
Making policy commitment to this course will ensure that more school girls are beneficiaries of the sanitary pad distribution in schools, it has been observed.
It is move that is in sync with enhancing the enrollment and retention of girls in school as a gender responsive commitment of New Direction government of President Julius Maada Bio.
Kenya, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana have been pivotal in bolstering efforts meant to ensure no girl misses school by instituting policies for sanitary pad distribution including adopting policies of tax exemption on sanitary pads.