The conversation on getting the girlchild free sanitary towels is one that has reverberated across nations. In Kenya, the idea of promoting the same is one that has been picked by government, corporates and organizations geared towards supporting females at large. In many nations, females have to spend money on sanitary towels during their monthly periods. Meaning every twelve months a year, they have to part with some money for these products.
Scotland has set the pace for the world becoming the first nation to provide sanitary towels for free. Its government passed a bill that would ensure free universal access to tampons, pads and other menstrual products, so as to contribute global movement against period poverty. The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland bill was successfully passed without any opposition in its first stage.
“Women and girls are too often left behind in the political process. This is a chance to put them first and do something that is truly groundbreaking on gender equality. Menstruation is normal. Free universal access to tampons, pads and reusable options should be normal too,” said Monica Lennon who brought the bill forth last year.
A 2017 survey by Plan International UK revealed that one in every ten girls in the UK cannot afford sanitary towels and that nearly half of all girls aged 14 to 21 are embarrassed by their periods, while about half had missed an entire day of school because of them.
Last year the Scottish government rolled out a program to ensure that students in schools, colleges and universities across the countries would be able to access sanitary products for free. The bill seeks to tackle period poverty, the stigma around menstruation and the impact that periods have on education.