Menarche is a sign of female physical maturity and fertility because it represents the transition from childhood to sexual maturity, which can cause anxiety among most females. Biologically, menstruation is an important and normal part of the female human life cycle, and humanity exists because of this. Our very existence is banked on the hope that a girl will reach puberty and finally menstruate. In this regard, menstrual hygiene is essential to the self-esteem, confidence and health of women and girls. Integral to menstrual hygiene is cleanliness and reproductive health, to which every woman and girl has a right.
Unfortunately, menstruation is misconstrued across several cultures with some viewing it as abnormal and taboo. This misconception, contributes to negative attitudes towards what is in fact a natural developmental process that a girl goes through. When people fail to recognize menstruation as a normal change from childhood to adolescence and then womanhood, it is stigmatized and defined as a ‘dirty’ side of womanhood. This is degrading and wrong.
it is common knowledge that when all girls, regardless of their social status, reach puberty, which can be as early as nine, they require sanitary products to make them feel comfortable. Ordinarily, one would assume such wares, which are of great value to girls and women, should be readily available and affordable.
Sanitary pad for girls and women is slapped with 20 percent import tax levy. We see this as a situation where, as a nation, we mortgage education, growth, maturation, social well-being plus sexual and reproductive health of girls and women, which is the core of womanhood.
CALL TO ACTION
J Initiative under its Happy School Girl Project (HSGP) is encouraging fellow Ghanaians to SIGN the petition to waive the 20% tax on the sanitary pad to make it affordable to girls.
Taxing ‘menstruation’ has implications for a young girl’s growth and maturation, education, health and social well-being as it makes the sanitary product very expensive. The other challenge has to do with relevant information, which is non-judgmental for both boys and girls. The removal of the tax, other challenges around hygienic practices will be addressed and it is only then women and girls will be empowered to manage menstruation in a hygienic and dignified manner.
It is the right time to take action.
Updates
June 4, 2017
I have been reading your stories about the struggle to afford basic necessities and it reminds me exactly why I started this fight. We are currently preparing to present these testimonies to the treasury because they need to see that this tax is a burden on our health and dignity.
June 4, 2017
Seeing this kind of energy for the cause has left me completely speechless today. It proves that so many of you recognize how cruel it is to tax a basic biological necessity that affects the girls in our own families. This momentum is helping me keep my head up as I prepare to take our fight directly to the decision makers.
61 Comments
Somethings should not attract any tax at all, especially when they cannot be locally produced to meet the huge demand. Sanitary pad is one of them and I support this cause
It is really incredulous how these things take place. Really? We are heavily taxing sanitary pads? How do we expect our girls in deprived communities and poor homes to afford? It's a sad situation
20% tax gives the impression that it is a luxury item. Girls need access to sanitary pads as a basic provision like food and shelter.
Anytime I buy sanitary pad I complain, because it's very expensive. what pains me the most is the fact that it is even more expensive in the rural areas than in the city. How can a girl in Eikwe,Akaa or any small village afford one when she begins to menstruate? Something should really be done about it. Thank you for taking this initiative!
It is absolutely unfair and inhumane for anyone or any orginization to attempt to make profit on womanhood. We cannot tax sanitary pad when already it is a struggle to buy at the current market price for most girls, women and parents. (Let's check ourselves and put ourselves in line with utmost urgency.
Waive the taxes now. Our girls need to learn with dignity.
Sexual reproductive health is the right of every girl or woman. Let’s take the tax off sanitary pads so women can have their periods in dignity.
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Menarche is a sign of female physical maturity and fertility because it represents the transition from childhood to sexual maturity, which can cause anxiety among most females. Biologically, menstruation is an important and normal part of the female human life cycle, and humanity exists because of this. Our very existence is banked on the hope that a girl will reach puberty and finally menstruate. In this regard, menstrual hygiene is essential to the self-esteem, confidence and health of women and girls. Integral to menstrual hygiene is cleanliness and reproductive health, to which every woman and girl has a right.
Unfortunately, menstruation is misconstrued across several cultures with some viewing it as abnormal and taboo. This misconception, contributes to negative attitudes towards what is in fact a natural developmental process that a girl goes through. When people fail to recognize menstruation as a normal change from childhood to adolescence and then womanhood, it is stigmatized and defined as a ‘dirty’ side of womanhood. This is degrading and wrong.
it is common knowledge that when all girls, regardless of their social status, reach puberty, which can be as early as nine, they require sanitary products to make them feel comfortable. Ordinarily, one would assume such wares, which are of great value to girls and women, should be readily available and affordable.
Sanitary pad for girls and women is slapped with 20 percent import tax levy. We see this as a situation where, as a nation, we mortgage education, growth, maturation, social well-being plus sexual and reproductive health of girls and women, which is the core of womanhood.
CALL TO ACTION
J Initiative under its Happy School Girl Project (HSGP) is encouraging fellow Ghanaians to SIGN the petition to waive the 20% tax on the sanitary pad to make it affordable to girls.
Taxing ‘menstruation’ has implications for a young girl’s growth and maturation, education, health and social well-being as it makes the sanitary product very expensive. The other challenge has to do with relevant information, which is non-judgmental for both boys and girls. The removal of the tax, other challenges around hygienic practices will be addressed and it is only then women and girls will be empowered to manage menstruation in a hygienic and dignified manner.
It is the right time to take action.
Updates
June 4, 2017
I have been reading your stories about the struggle to afford basic necessities and it reminds me exactly why I started this fight. We are currently preparing to present these testimonies to the treasury because they need to see that this tax is a burden on our health and dignity.
June 4, 2017
Seeing this kind of energy for the cause has left me completely speechless today. It proves that so many of you recognize how cruel it is to tax a basic biological necessity that affects the girls in our own families. This momentum is helping me keep my head up as I prepare to take our fight directly to the decision makers.
61 Comments
I strongly agree with making sanitary pads tax free...now an 8 in one sanitary pad cost averagely 5ghc..one would need 2 packs for clean menstrual cycle in a month..some young girls wear one pad more than 4 hrs because they can afford only one pack and if they run out no money to buy another pack...this practice in the long run can affect the female reproductive system.
Somethings should not attract any tax at all, especially when they cannot be locally produced to meet the huge demand. Sanitary pad is one of them and I support this cause
It is really incredulous how these things take place. Really? We are heavily taxing sanitary pads? How do we expect our girls in deprived communities and poor homes to afford? It's a sad situation
20% tax gives the impression that it is a luxury item. Girls need access to sanitary pads as a basic provision like food and shelter.
Anytime I buy sanitary pad I complain, because it's very expensive. what pains me the most is the fact that it is even more expensive in the rural areas than in the city. How can a girl in Eikwe,Akaa or any small village afford one when she begins to menstruate? Something should really be done about it. Thank you for taking this initiative!
It is absolutely unfair and inhumane for anyone or any orginization to attempt to make profit on womanhood. We cannot tax sanitary pad when already it is a struggle to buy at the current market price for most girls, women and parents. (Let's check ourselves and put ourselves in line with utmost urgency.
Waive the taxes now. Our girls need to learn with dignity.
Sexual reproductive health is the right of every girl or woman. Let’s take the tax off sanitary pads so women can have their periods in dignity.
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I strongly agree with making sanitary pads tax free...now an 8 in one sanitary pad cost averagely 5ghc..one would need 2 packs for clean menstrual cycle in a month..some young girls wear one pad more than 4 hrs because they can afford only one pack and if they run out no money to buy another pack...this practice in the long run can affect the female reproductive system.