Hearing Impaired School receives sanitary pads
The Hearing Impaired School in Windhoek – which falls under the National Institute of Special Education - celebrated Menstrual Hygiene Day yesterday, and received a box of sanitary pads from Khomas Region governor, Laura McLeod-Katjirua.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated globally on 28 May every year to create awareness about menstruation, provide safe and hygienic practices and eliminate stigma around menstruation.
At the handover, McLeod-Katjirua said people don't ask to menstruate and thus deserve all the support and resources they can get.
"Sanitary pads are not a luxury but rather a necessity. Government has to set up a budget for these products so that every Namibian girl child receives it every month," she said.
The governor added that her office received 18 boxes of sanitary pads from State House, which will be distributed to 18 schools in the region.
"We selected these schools at random and we did not know that we would receive the exact number of boxes.”
Each box contains 384 packs of pads, McLeod-Katjirua said, adding that “it may not be much, but it’s something”.
A right
Education ministry director Edda Bohn said the girl child has the right to a safe and clean environment during their menstrual cycles, and providing this is a priority.
"Stigma and a lack of access to sanitary products have had a great impact on the emotional well-being of women and girls globally.
“Namibian women and girls should be able to manage their menstruation hygienically and with dignity," she said.
Tampon Tax removed
Namibia has removed what is known as 'Tampon Tax' following a motion by the deputy minister of information and communication technology, Emma Theofelus, last March.
Before this, Namibians were charged a luxury tax rate of 15% (value-added tax) on all sanitary products.
The tax removal will run for the duration of the 2022/2023 financial year, according to finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi.
He said this will help enhance affordability and improve access to sanitary products.
According to the United Nations Namibia, in 2014, only 17% of women living in rural areas have access to improved sanitation facilities and this leads to the "deprivation of women's privacy and infrastructure required for healthy, safe, and hygienic menstrual management".
Responding to this, McLeod-Katjirua promised to join the fight for a safe and healthy menstrual experience for Namibian women and children by making sure every year, on Menstrual Hygiene Day, sanitary pads are donated.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated globally on 28 May every year to create awareness about menstruation, provide safe and hygienic practices and eliminate stigma around menstruation.
At the handover, McLeod-Katjirua said people don't ask to menstruate and thus deserve all the support and resources they can get.
"Sanitary pads are not a luxury but rather a necessity. Government has to set up a budget for these products so that every Namibian girl child receives it every month," she said.
The governor added that her office received 18 boxes of sanitary pads from State House, which will be distributed to 18 schools in the region.
"We selected these schools at random and we did not know that we would receive the exact number of boxes.”
Each box contains 384 packs of pads, McLeod-Katjirua said, adding that “it may not be much, but it’s something”.
A right
Education ministry director Edda Bohn said the girl child has the right to a safe and clean environment during their menstrual cycles, and providing this is a priority.
"Stigma and a lack of access to sanitary products have had a great impact on the emotional well-being of women and girls globally.
“Namibian women and girls should be able to manage their menstruation hygienically and with dignity," she said.
Tampon Tax removed
Namibia has removed what is known as 'Tampon Tax' following a motion by the deputy minister of information and communication technology, Emma Theofelus, last March.
Before this, Namibians were charged a luxury tax rate of 15% (value-added tax) on all sanitary products.
The tax removal will run for the duration of the 2022/2023 financial year, according to finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi.
He said this will help enhance affordability and improve access to sanitary products.
According to the United Nations Namibia, in 2014, only 17% of women living in rural areas have access to improved sanitation facilities and this leads to the "deprivation of women's privacy and infrastructure required for healthy, safe, and hygienic menstrual management".
Responding to this, McLeod-Katjirua promised to join the fight for a safe and healthy menstrual experience for Namibian women and children by making sure every year, on Menstrual Hygiene Day, sanitary pads are donated.
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