The Agony of Menstruation: Girls Using Clothes Due to Expensive Sanitary Pads

Experts and health professionals are calling on the government to take action, providing free sanitary pads for adolescent girls and addressing the root causes of poverty that exacerbate this issue.

In Nigeria, the struggle for menstrual hygiene has become a harsh reality for many young girls. Faith, a 17-year-old student, is one of many who have resorted to using clothes to absorb menstrual blood due to the unaffordability of sanitary pads. With a pack of pads now costing between N500 to N2,000, many families are unable to provide this basic necessity for their daughters.

The consequences of using clothes for menstruation are dire, with girls facing the risk of urinary tract infections, reproductive health issues, and psychological trauma. Despite the exemption of locally manufactured sanitary products from value-added tax in 2020, prices continue to soar, leaving many vulnerable girls without access to safe menstrual products.

Experts and health professionals are calling on the government to take action, providing free sanitary pads for adolescent girls and addressing the root causes of poverty that exacerbate this issue. The distribution of sanitary products as palliatives, subsidization by non-governmental organizations, and provision of clean water and sanitation facilities in schools are some of the recommended solutions.

The plight of these young girls highlights the need for urgent attention to menstrual health and hygiene, ensuring that they can thrive without the burden of unaffordable sanitary products. As Professor Oladapo Ladipo emphasized, "The government should make sanitary pads free for young adolescents, particularly in schools." It is time for collective action to address this critical issue and safeguard the well-being of Nigeria's future generations.

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