The Bauchi State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed into law the first-ever bill for the establishment of Sanitary Pad Banks in Schools, Correctional Facilities, and Community Centres across the state.
The bill was passed during plenary by the members after it was listed for third reading, with the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Abubakar Y. Suleiman, presiding.
Abubakar Suleiman congratulated partners that include Women for Women International (WfWI), ASHH Foundation, Child is Gold Foundation, and other CSOs for their tenacity, commitment, and dedication in advocacies leading to the passage of the bill.
The Speaker expressed his optimism about the positive impact the bill will have on the lives of indigent adolescent girls and young women who could not afford sanitary pads during their menstrual periods.
The Speaker then reiterated the commitment of members of the House to supporting initiatives that would enhance women’s development in the state.
Speaking on the sidelines with our correspondent, the visibly elated Executive Director (ED) of ASHH Foundation, Ambassador Comfort Attah, expressed her gratitude to the Bauchi State Government, the State Legislature, Women for Women International, Child is Gold Foundation, and all the CSOs that championed the passage of the bill.
Comfort Attah said that though the bill has been passed into law, it is not yet uhuru until the Governor has signed it into law, stressing that CSOs are ready to partner with the government in the effective and efficient implementation of the sanitary pad banks system in the state.
According to her, “I want to say this without any fear of contradiction: that our Governor will assent to this bill. The government of Senator Bala Mohammed has created an enabling environment for partners and CSOs intervention in Bauchi State.”
“This bill, being the first ever in the whole of the country, is a huge credit to the Bauchi State Government under the dynamic leadership of our Governor,” said Attah.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Child is Gold Foundation, Elizabeth George, said that the passage of the bill was another milestone and landmark achievement for CSOs working on women-related issues.
Elizabeth George, who could not hide her joy, described the day as “a day for the indigent adolescent girls in primary and secondary schools, women in their respective communities, and incarcerated women in correctional facilities.”
According to her, “Menstrual hygiene management will no longer impede attendance in school. There will be proper menstrual hygiene management also in correctional facilities and even at the community level.”
Elizabeth George thanked WfWI for the technical and financial support leading to the passage of the bill.
Speaking with journalists shortly, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Lawal Dauda, said that Bauchi State is the first state in the country to pass such a bill.
Lawal Dauda said that the establishment of the free sanitary pad banks will no doubt address some of the challenges associated with menstrual hygiene management and checkmate absenteeism in schools by indigent adolescent girls, young women, and female inmates during their menstrual periods.
He thanked his colleagues for their support in the passage of the bill, stressing, “This bill, the first of its kind in Nigeria, enjoyed tremendous support by all honourable members. As you can see, we are on recess, but were called back just to pass the bill.”
He also stated that, “that is a clear demonstration of support and commitment by the leadership of the House and the honourable members,” said the House Committee Chairman on Health.
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