Opposition embraces sanitary pads motion

Opposition has welcomed the motion that was passed by Parliament requesting government to provide sanitary pads to all schools. Nata-Gweta MP, Polson Majaga brought the motion on urgency application. Speaking in an interview with The Midweek Sun, Botswana National Front (BNF), Justin Hunyepa said they applaud Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) for listening and finally acceding to the BNF’s longstanding proposal for the provision of sanitary pads. In 2002 BNF under the office of Secretary for Health, launched a sanitary pads campaign dubbed ‘Ensuring the Dignity of Women’.

This campaign included organising sanitary pads for needy women and encouraging teenage debates and discussions on the issues of menstrual health. “The BNF campaign requested the BDP led government to provide free sanitary pads to the needy teenagers in our communities and in schools. The opposition also proposed a motion calling for the provision of sanitary pads in schools and public health centres, but the BDP legislators unreasonably shot it down,” he said.According to Hunyepa, the BNF believes that sanitary pads do not only provide a healthy lifestyle for the young women, but also gives them confidence, pride and dignity. His counterpart at the troubled orange movement, the self-imposed leader of Botswana Movement for Democracy Youth League (BMDYL), Jacob Kelebeng said the introduction of sanitary pads is a good move by the government.

“We must thank all MPs who supported the motion. This will curb a problem that has been faced by the girl child, more especially ones from less advantaged families,” he said. Kelebeng added, “Women are our precious diamonds that need to be protected and appreciated at all times. This will allow the girl child to attend school without any emotional disturbance, her integrity and pride as a woman would be restored and that can even help her do well in her studies.”