Sanitary pad plan to get wings
AFTER being endorsed as policy by the ANC at their fifth national policy conference, it is likely the rollout of free sanitary pads for girls at disadvantaged schools will happen soon.
Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, said the policy discussion comes after a nationwide drive to put the issue on the national agenda.
“Free sanitary pads means providing sanitary pads to girl learners in our schools at no cost to them, especially those from poor backgrounds. Furthermore, the pads will be distributed at the schools and this plan is to be implemented as soon as possible. There is a plan to ensure that there is uniform implementation,” Mhlanga said.
NGOs such as The Redwings Project and Dignity Dreams are hopeful that more organisations will follow up the ANC’s endorsement of free sanitary pads.
Jodie Bedeker, from Dignity Dreams, an organisation that provides girls in need with re-usable SABS absorbency approved sanitary wear, said: “The government has been making this statement since 2007 and, in our experience, we have never seen endorsement in action. We will always be hopeful of this plan becoming a reality and for the government to consider a more sustainable solution, such as our washable sanitary pads.”
Masindi Zelda Raluare, assistant project co-ordinator at The Redwings Project, said: “I would like to believe that it will be feasible to a certain degree with the hope of it starting at the lower end our society.”
Raluare believes “a delivery to schools should happen every term when schools reopen; about 501 girls who already have their period can receive a supply that could last them the entire school term without having to worry”.
She said an average of between 600 and 1100 pads per school are required depending on the number of girls per school.
ANC Youth League (ANCYL) regional co-ordinator for Cape Town, Roscoe Jacobs, said: “The ANCYL supports the endorsement of free sanitary pads as they want young girls to be in school as often as possible.”