Periods are a huge part of every woman’s life and proper hygiene is very essential during this time. Gone are the days when women used unsanitary items like fabric and toilet paper to take care of their business.
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With the emergence of sanitary towels, tampons and other feminine products life was made easier. Yet it looks like the story is changing.
Over the years, the prices of sanitary towels in Nigeria have been on the rise making it difficult for the average woman to have an ease-free period.
Girls who live in less developed areas barely have access to these essential commodities while women who are low-income earners are finding it difficult to buy them.
Using the hashtag, #EndThe9jaTaxOnPads, these women are sharing their stories online to urge the government to end the tax on sanitary pads so as to make them more accessible.
See some of their tweets below:
No girl child deserves to use rags or tissue because she can’t afford sanitary pads.
No girl child deserves to wear one pad throughout a day because she want to manage.
Sanitary pads should be affordable for every woman#EndThe9jaTaxOnPads— SULEIMAN A. MUHAMMAD (@SAMskilllz10) October 20, 2018
I bought pad today and I wanted to cry. The cost is outrageous. One costs about #700 and it’s 7 in one. I may use 4 a day and this can last for 6days. Do the sum. I may be able to afford it but what about others who can’t and bleed excessively for 7days. #EndThe9jaTaxOnPads
— Mjay (@Harv3lLa_) October 20, 2018
The average woman in Nigeria is having to spend between 1,000-1,500 naira every month on buying Pads because of their periods. In a year that’s about 18,000 naira- and imagine that most women will have a monthly period for about 30 years on the average.#EndThe9jaTaxOnPads
— YourFavOnlineDoctor (@DrOlufunmilayo) October 21, 2018
I’m joining this campaign because I know that everytime I get my pads I always complain about the cost,and I’m a working class lady yet I complain. Then I think of the students,poor girls and poor mothers who can’t afford it. It’s just not right. #EndThe9jaTaxOnPads
— Rose Rozay Akai (@rozirozay) October 20, 2018
SANITARY PADS should be free, CONDOM should be sold.
Sex is a choice, menstruation is a must. #End9jaTaxOnPads #End9jaTaxOnPads pic.twitter.com/q5h7yr1zpH— ?Omidanabeni? (@omidanabeni) October 20, 2018
Free pads Give women Extra Life.
How?
Average of a 5 day period cycle every month.
We have 12 Mths a Year
5 × 12 = 60. Then 60÷30 days = 2.
I.e A woman spends an average of 2months a Year having her period which comes with its own challenges. we must #EndThe9jaTaxOnPads— Tims ∞ (@DurojayeRotimi) October 20, 2018
Pads are exorbitant. See,the truth is women are struggling with this pad thing. I know a lot of people who don’t use it anymore cause they can’t afford it and are broke. Please #EndThe9jaTaxOnPads
— Superhuman ?? (@JapaneseNkume) October 20, 2018
Sanitary pads are no luxury goods, they are medical and physiological necessities. Every girl deserves easy access to sanitary pad. #EndThe9jaTaxOnPads //t.co/mD1RLf9URx
— Oluwatosin Olarewaju (@theladypearl_) October 22, 2018
It is Immoral and very inconsiderate…. One pack of always sanitary pad has just 7 or 8 pieces so most ladies end up using 2, totalling 700 naira per period, like how many gals can afford that, what about the mother with 4 adolescents gals #EndThe9jaTaxOnPads //t.co/FfIvpxkQjn
— Tolu ‘Bisi (@isibalo3) October 20, 2018
Condoms are shared for FREE
Having sex is a choice.Sanitary Pads are NOT free
Menstruation is NOT a choice.Sanitary Pads are basic necessities of life for all our women and girls.
Retweet to End Tax on Sanitary Pads in Nigeria.#EndThe9jaTaxOnPads
— Uncle Next Door™ (@Raremaester) October 20, 2018
We hope that this appeal will move the authorities to take action and make life easier for young women all over the country.
