LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COST OF SANITARY PADS 😭😢😪

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COST OF SANITARY PADS 😭😢BECAUSE I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING AGAIN!!

INTRODUCTION

A few years ago with 200 naira a pack of sanitary pads could be bought and I do know that before it was 200 naira it has been sold for a lower price in the past😪 making it affordable. Gradually the cost of sanitary pads keeps increasing every day and my heart goes out to the young girls and ladies who cannot afford them and as such would either miss school or other important things they have to do, to stay at home because they can't afford sanitary pads. Currently, a pack of sanitary pads is sold for 550 naira, 600 naira, 700 naira and above😭😭. The question that keeps brewing in my head is how then do we promote menstrual hygiene amongst young girls and ladies if the said instrument for promoting that hygiene is expensive. We all know for a fact that the economy of the country is not encouraging. As it is said, "once a price goes up", it never comes down! But should sanitary pads be among those commodities that would go up and never go down? Should sanitary pads be so expensive that the average female child, teenager, or young girl instead of buying one that is of quality and good for her body/flow, would end up buying one which is affordable😪😢 just to make due. If a condom is free why can't the prices of sanitary pads be reviewed by the authorities responsible as this involves the health of young girls/ladies?

THE GIRL AND HER MENSTRUAL HYGIENE 

Some young girls in rural areas, I am not talking about those rural areas that are a little bit developed; "No", I am talking about rural areas that don't even have electricity talk of less accessible roads😭 Young girls in such areas use things like:-

🌹Pieces of materials sewn together, they wash it off and also use it again😢 

🌹Some use tissues, which is so uncomfortable and unhygenic😭

🌹Some even use old newspapers and papers.

🌹Some even wear theirs more than the estimated period because they want to manage and we can't blame them, can we?

Maybe they don't have an Idea of what menstrual hygiene is🤔or maybe they do but they are faced with a reality that says otherwise.

Omorrr.....the list goes on and on...

I am not a medical expert but I know that poor menstrual hygiene can affect the health of teenage girls, and young women starting from their reproductive organs to their overall well-being(feel free to correct me if I am wrong in the comment section). There's no age limit to menstrual hygiene. The young girl who just got her first period should be empowered with this knowledge as also the final year student in the university.

In the bid to make more gain and more money, let's consider the young girls out there, who don't even know where their next meal is coming from as their health and body matters. Health is a priority and should be treated as such...When sanitary pads are affordable then it will help in the promotion of menstrual hygiene. 

MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AND MENSTRUAL CARE 

Before I continue, I would like to define what menstrual hygiene, is, what menstrual care is and also what menstruation is.

🌹Menstrual hygiene refers to the various health requirements, necessities, and procedures that will aid in promoting or assisting in the health and well-being of the female gender during menstruation.

🌹Menstrual care is a general concern, and attention, treatment, and keep is and will be provided during menstruation.

🌹Menstruation is the monthly flow of blood from the female reproductive organ.

It is also important to note that menstrual symptoms differ individually, some might feel dizzy others tired. Some might not even feel anything just a slight pain in the abdomen on the first day and that's it. Some might not even feel anything throughout but may have mood swings and emotional unavailability. Some may keep vomiting, lack appetite to eat, etc..the list goes on and on(feel free to add yours in the comment section). No two bodies are the same.

DO I THINK MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AND MENSTRUAL CARE ARE IMPORTANT?

"Yes, I do, a lot of young teenage girls/ladies face symptoms they don't even understand and have not heard of maybe because they lack the required knowledge and care😢. You hear things like:-

🌹 Are you the first to see your period? stop complaining.

🌹This one is small how about childbirth?

🌹 This pain is preparing you for childbirth - I once heard that once you have a painful period, you won't have a painful labour-being more mature I can't tell if this one is supposed to encourage the person or do something else( kindly add yours in the comment section).

MOVING ON.....

I won't fail to acknowledge those bodies, NGOs, organisations, govt. agencies who one way or the other are making their bid to mitigate the harshness of the cost of sanitary pads by sharing sanitary pads amongst young girls, thank you all for your effort👏. But we still have a lot to do. The International Day of the Girl Child is not the only day set aside for menstrual hygiene advocacy. Every day is a day for it. It's high time we stop neglecting menstrual hygiene because is a woman's thing or ladies' talk. At this juncture, I would say it's a general talk. All hands should be on deck. A few years ago I found out that you don't use all kinds of panties during menstruation and also as you grow up the pains reduce or don't and you have to eat healthily and avoid sugar especially when you are about to have your period.

Ooops.. I forgot some young girls don't even know how to track their periods to know the next date as this will enable them to prepare😢😭...(that is because they haven't been taught)

WHAT'S THE WAY FORWARD AS REGARDS MENUSTRUAL HYGIENE AND CARE?

🌹 Fathers talk to your young daughters about it, get information from the right source and help so our girls don't get the wrong information. 

🌹 Mothers stop telling your daughters that menstrual pain should be overlooked or she is a woman, she should bear the pain as this is small compared to labour. If it hurts her visit a doctor, and talk to one trained and specialised to help your daughter out.

🌹Brothers when your sister's/female cousins are down with period pain, kindly assist her with the housework or whatever she was doing, don't wait for her to recover and continue. House chores are not gender-based. You can assist her in buying sanitary pads if she runs out of one. And don't mind the faces of those who look at you when you come to the pharmacist counter or store counter to pay. Their opinion will never and can never count!!

🌹Government/Society is high time the cost of sanitary pads is reviewed because I don't even understand again!!!!

🌹Concerning the drugs that should be taken during the menstrual period, more attention should be brought to this, to avoid girls and ladies taking someone damaging to their health.

NOTE:- One more thing when you see a young girl or a lady is stained please don't laugh or call the next person standing beside you pointing and laughing. Kindly, be a gentle person and inform that person or meet a lady also in that vicinity(if you can't inform the female person yourself)and inform her so she can go tell whoever the person is. 

BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE!!!

IN CONCLUSION 

Period poverty affects the entire well-being of a girl both healthwise, physically, and emotionally. 

🌹There should be a street, school, market, and church Sensitization. Sanitary pads should be shared free in government schools, there should be more menstrual hygiene and care teachings in schools, churches and markets(This can be sponsored by private organisations, government agencies, or well-meaning citizens).

🌹 Leaflets and journals concerning the menstrual period, menstrual hygiene and menstrual care should be made available and shared not just in English but in native languages so those who can't read in English can read in their native language.

I hope this brings more enlightenment to menstruation, menstrual hygiene and care. As this is general.

LET'S PAD UP OUR GIRLS'

P.S. I am a Nigerian and a menstrual hygiene advocate!!!

Chyamakamike.

Content Writer/StoryTeller 

President ABG&M

Always take care of yourself, yourself and your body!

Drop your comments as to what other methods can be used to promote menstrual hygiene and care.

Images@"https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/gloomy-african-american-woman-cares-about-personal-hygiene-holds-sanitary-pad,https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/variety-female-menstrual-hygiene-top-view