BY NYASHA DUBE- Women rights activists have called on government and relevant stakeholders to swiftly respond to the plight of the girl child and woman during such a time when prices of sanitary wear continue to sky rocket.
This comes at a time when prices of pads continue to shy rocket in retail outlets.
In an interview with Women’s Weekly Journal, woman rights activist Millicent Nhutsve of Hope Foundation said although most girls and women are being forced to adopt traditional and homemade alternatives to pads, these methods are not safe for menstrual hygiene.
“The increase in prices of pads is really affecting the girl child and woman at this point. And we can’t really advice women to embrace homemade methods as they are unhealthy. There are water shortages and soap is more expensive, how will they wash those homemade pads,” said a concerned Nhutsve.
She added that some women and girls are even resorting to unsafe ways of preventing their periods.
“Some women even resort to taking family planning pills even when they don’t need them just so they can prevent their period flow. But that same woman has daughters who cannot go on contraceptive. This continues to pose more problems,” Nhutsve said
Nhutsve called on government and the business community to be more considerate to the plight of the girl child and woman during this tough time.
“We appeal for government and business people to consider women and girls during this tough time. Most women are not earning enough to buy those expensive pads. At the same time menstruating is not a choice.”
Pads are ranging between RTGS55 to RTGS100 in retail shops, a price that is far beyond the reach of many girls and women, given the current economic situation in the country.