THEY SHOULD BE FREE

 By: KARUYONGA AKALIZA Sonia, Lycee de Kigali

“Sex is a choice menstruation is not.” This has become a known phrase and quote which has raised debates and arguments on the issue of why sanitary pads are sold while condoms are given out free. This essay is going to discuss some of the reasons why some support the idea of condoms being free. Subsequently it is going to show the reasons why I believe sanitary pads should be made free.

When the issue of pricing condoms was raised, the rise in the cases of HIV was also raised, it was said that condoms have been one of the major aspects to reduce the rise in the cases of HIV, because condoms are free in universities, motels, hotels, clubs, etc; it is most likely that you might find a partner in these places with HIV, so the free condoms reduces the chances of you getting infected. Similarly the provision of free condoms has prevented the easy spread of STI’s and STD’s.

Another one of the reasons why condoms are free is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. With the already high population in some countries, unwanted pregnancies would just add to the problem, so the availability of free condoms prevents this because some people can’t afford other methods of preventing unwanted pregnancies. Now that we have seen some of the reasons condoms were made free let’s move to the reasons why I believe sanitary pads should be made free.

First of all I think sanitary pads should be free because lack of access to free sanitary pads sometimes affects the learning of some girls, you can ask yourselves how? According to a survey made by Bhekisisa, it was seen that girls who can’t afford sanitary pads miss school during their periods, some may argue that that’s just a few days a month and shouldn’t be made an a excuse to make sanitary pads free but think of those “a few” days each month that is a lot of missed days, so access to those free sanitary pads would solve this problem.

Making sanitary pads would also prevent the stigma that is sometimes seen in girls who can’t afford sanitary pads. Girls from poor families tend to feel uncomfortable during their periods because they can’t afford sanitary pads and also feel shy asking for them, if they were only made available to them freely they wouldn’t have to have all that stigma when it’s not their fault they can’t afford them.

Saving has been said to be one of the good habits that lead to one’s development; making sanitary pads free would help women and girls save more which would be useful for their future.

Concluding I would say it is of more use to make sanitary pads free than make condoms because of the reasons I have given above and also because if you look at most of the places where condoms are given for free like the university hostels, motels, hotels, and others, these are places used by people who can already afford the condoms so why make then free for them, instead free sanitary pads should be made available because as earlier said sex is a choice and menstruation is not.