Sanitary Towels Or Condoms; Which One Carries The Day?

Between condoms and sanitary towels, which one should be given priority? Which one should be issued for free?

Practicing hygiene in girls and women is very important because they are so sensitive in matters of health. Girls are urged to practice high hygiene, especially during menses.

Every month mature girls and women between the age of 13-45 experience the menstruation cycle that forces them to have sanitary towels to prevent shame and also maintain hygiene.

It is an essential natural thing that every normal female between the age group above to experience the flow, one cannot control in a matter saying this and this date I won’t have money to buy sanitary towels so I’ll have to delay my periods, NO when the time comes the periods comes too naturally, which is no ones fault to have menses.

In this case, a packet of a cheap sanitary towel goes at around  ksh50 in which it has only 8 pieces of towels. Remember this cheap packet cannot be used by a female who has a heavy flow, she needs a better one which at this time a better thick pad costs around Ksh 85  with the same 8 pieces inside.

The 8 pieces however cannot be used by someone who has a heavy flow and long days of menses because some can go up to a period of one week, the 8 pieces cannot be of help to that female which she has to use more pieces and the budget increases.

On the other hand, sex is a luxury as per everyone’s understanding, but not everyone understands why the government of Kenya has decided to give out condoms for free to citizens arguing that they are trying to reduce unwanted pregnancies and mainly to prevent people from STDs, which is okay but not very much okay.

Since one can abstain from sex or one who wants to have sex should pay a cost for it to enjoy this is by buying the condoms, if you cant afford then abstain since its not a basic need anyone can live without its just a matter of self-control.

It is much logical if the government decides not to eliminate the tax on sanitary towels or just reduce the price, to help girls from poor families who find it difficult to purchase the pads. Because some girls go to the extent of not attending school during menses since of the fear of shame due to lack of pads for being too expensive.

This is so sad that luxury is given more credits than basic items.

READ: 180,000 Girls To Get Sanitary Towels From M-PESA Foundation