Minister-Designate for Gender, Naa Momo, has announced plans to provide sanitary pads to girls in rural communities once she assumes office.

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Speaking during her vetting on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, she outlined her commitment to addressing the challenges faced by girls in rural areas during their menstrual periods."I think this is a conversation we haveto be having until we get to know where to waive of some of the teaxes iand ensue that we also create a buidget for women and girls to have adequate protection. There is lack of funding to suppourt procurement of pads for girls" she said.

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Girls in rural areas struggle with access to menstrual products, forcing many to use unsafe alternatives like old clothes, which can cause infections and other health problems.

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The high price of sanitary pads, along with stigma and poor sanitation facilities, makes the situation even worse. Some girls are forced to skip school or take risky actions just to afford pads.

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Several advocacy groups, including FemPawa Africa and Focusing on Women and Girls Initiative for Positive Change, have been pushing for tax cuts on menstrual products to make them cheaper and easier to get. Their efforts have made an impact, and in the 2024 budget, the government announced that locally made sanitary pads will no longer be taxed.

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This decision is expected to help reduce period poverty and improve menstrual hygiene for girls and women in rural communities.

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She however pledged equity in policy implementation for both boys and girls after one of the committes members, Nelson Dafeamekpor when he mentioned how he spends lots of money procuring pads for the girls in his constituency which is 'costly' according to him.

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