SANITARY PADS SHOULD BE FREE, CONDOMS SHOULD BE SOLD .SEX IS A CHOICE, MENSTRUATION IS NOT

By: UMWALI NYAGATARE Fiona, Lycee Notre Dame de Citeaux

Sanitary pads, sanitary towels or maxi pads whatever a person chooses to call them, one can’t deny that the fact that they are part of gynecological hygiene of every woman .This goes on to show that just as toilet paper sanitary pads are important and useful too in maintaining proper body hygiene and it is because of this reason that makes these materials a need not a want.

Even though these materials are seen as essential needs for women, consumers have to pay either the value added tax or sales tax on them in most countries and why is that? Women don’t choose to go through their menstruation periods which in many cases come along with cramps, breakouts and mood swings .Every month most women go through all this pain and they are forced to worry about staining their clothes.

Nowadays, in a lot of countries, condoms are sold for free because they help reduce transmission of STDs .Even so, one can agree that sex is a choice, a person can choose to have sex or not contrary to menstruation periods women can’t choose not to have them. There are many reasons as to why sanitary pads should be free among these we have:

According to research, many women say that it is stressing to be caught without a pad, they define it as a feeling of extreme panic. Whether a woman’s period is regular or irregular no woman can deny the fact that having her period sometimes is overwhelming, now imagine a woman having her period at worst of times and worst of places such as a restaurant where she knows no body if the restrooms in these restaurants have no free sanitary pads that woman would go through a state of embarrassment, panic and stress .This leads to the question why do women have to go all through this if we agree they didn’t sign up for it. That’s why in order to reduce their burden sanitary pads should be free.

Many say sanitary pads are expensive that’s why they can’t be for free because the government's expenditure would increase but if the government were able to have condoms sold for free then sanitary pads would be the same.it is all a matter of engagement .Yes, sanitary pads are expensive but making them free is an investment in the future of a lot girls. A UNESCO report estimates that one in ten girls in sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstruation cycle not only this about also twenty percent of school days are missed out by young girls. If this continues dropouts are likely to occur.

Moreover, Sanitary pads should be free so as to promote equality .Equality is a state of being equal, especially in status, rights or opportunities .if girls who don’t have their periods go to restrooms and enjoy all the satisfaction brought about by having all necessary hygienic tools like toilet paper then those who have their periods should enjoy the same .How can this satisfaction be obtained? Well there is no other way but to free sanitary pads just like it has been done for condoms.

Furthermore, if sanitary pads were to be made free then it would save on wastes an estimate of two thousand US dollars is spent by women over replacing underwear spoilt by leaks in a lifetime. Two thousand dollars is a lot of money to be thrown away on causes that can be avoided in the first place .Sanitary pads would be free just like condoms on ghee grounds of reducing unnecessary expenses that may arise from not freeing maxi pads.

Lastly, just like condoms, sanitary pads help to avoid diseases caused by poor menstrual hygiene diseases like urinary tract diseases, vaginal infections and rashes .For so long condoms were given out for free because they reduce STDs transmission, if this is the basis for the decision of making condoms free then sanitary pads should be free seeing that they help to reduce such kinds of diseases mentioned above. There is no lying , women take up a great percentage in the world population that’s why if their wellbeing is not granted then their future isn’t as well and so the economic development.

In conclusion , women are allowed to feel safe and free at all times because they too play a meaningful contribution in growth and development of a country .Many say that condoms are supposed to be free rather than sanitary pads because they work for both genders and so more profitable but let us remember that world's population is dominated by females therefore making sanitary pads free is equally profitable just as making condoms free which should be sold instead because like said before sex is a choice but menstruation is not.