Politicians divided on sanitary pads
Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa has shot down a suggestion from deputy agriculture minister Anna Shiweda that girls must be encouraged to make use of “alternative materials” instead of waiting for the government to supply them with free sanitary pads.
Speaking during the Gender Advisory Committee dialogue yesterday, Shiweda said the government might overcommit itself financially and might not be able to continue supplying sanitary pads once donor funding ran out.
“There are other materials that the girls can use, but not leaves,” she said.
Her suggestion was received well by the deputy minister of higher education, training and innovation, Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, who said girls should be encouraged to use “washable pads”.
According to Ndjoze-Ojo, the free pads initiative was ideally targeting vulnerable girls, especially those in child-headed households who have no parental support.
Hanse-Himarwa said she was not a proponent of reusable pads.
“It is very unhygienic. Providing pads is not so expensive. I am sure we can design a sustainable programme,” she said.
Meanwhile, a progress report presented by education permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp stated that N$300 000 had been mobilised from government resources and donors to procure sanitary products for needy girls.
This was done by the Sanitary Products Technical Committee.
According to this report, 3 750 needy girls from all 14 regions were identified as beneficiaries.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Speaking during the Gender Advisory Committee dialogue yesterday, Shiweda said the government might overcommit itself financially and might not be able to continue supplying sanitary pads once donor funding ran out.
“There are other materials that the girls can use, but not leaves,” she said.
Her suggestion was received well by the deputy minister of higher education, training and innovation, Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, who said girls should be encouraged to use “washable pads”.
According to Ndjoze-Ojo, the free pads initiative was ideally targeting vulnerable girls, especially those in child-headed households who have no parental support.
Hanse-Himarwa said she was not a proponent of reusable pads.
“It is very unhygienic. Providing pads is not so expensive. I am sure we can design a sustainable programme,” she said.
Meanwhile, a progress report presented by education permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp stated that N$300 000 had been mobilised from government resources and donors to procure sanitary products for needy girls.
This was done by the Sanitary Products Technical Committee.
According to this report, 3 750 needy girls from all 14 regions were identified as beneficiaries.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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