Dear editor,

I am the mother of two young girls who have recently started their periods, the youngest one being 11 years old. I think that Sanitary towels should be free for girls up to the age of 18.

Sometimes one packet of sanitary wear is not enough for young girls whilst on a period, and you soon find that it gets very expensive. The Government should provide vouchers for these children which can only be used to purchase sanitary wear.

It seems a bit sad that pocket money should be spent on Sanitary towels as it is not a luxury item, but a necessity. Please let the matter be taken seriously as there are some parents who cannot afford to by them for their children.

My great concern goes to young girls in rural areas who suffer a lot when they lack supply of sanitary towels. These young girls, who are some times orphans, do not have any one to care for their needs. They even go to an extent of not going to school at this period.

Hygienically, they suffer because they use things like old rugged cloths, old mattresses and even their clothes, which is a threat to their reproductive health. This is a great problem and its implication is far reaching.

Every year, millions of girls will reach puberty in Sub-Sahara Africa, Rwanda included. Sanitary wear especially pads will inevitably be an added requirement for them.

Less-privileged girls and women who represent substantial percentage in our contemporary Africa will continue to suffer resulting to school absenteeism and also compromising their right to health care.

Which is why, I call upon all concerned authorities to handle the matter with all its weight. If condoms can be given out for free while we can abstain why can’t we have free sanitary towels? They are necessities that we can not abstain from; menstrual cycle is what makes us women.

Rusumo