The Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) has passed the groundbreaking bill for the establishment of sanitary pad banks in schools, correctional facilities, and community centers across Bauchi State.
Following the bill’s passage, the Speaker of the House, Right Honourable Abubakar Y. Suleiman, congratulated the partners involved, including Women for Women International (WfWI), ASHH Foundation, Child is Gold Foundation, and other civil society organizations (CSOs), for their unwavering commitment and dedication to advocacy efforts that led to the bill’s approval.
The Speaker expressed optimism about the positive impact the bill will have on the lives of indigent adolescent girls and women who struggle to afford sanitary pads during their menstrual periods.
Also speaking, Hon. Lawal Dauda, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, noted that Bauchi State is the first in the country to pass such a bill. He emphasized that the establishment of free sanitary pad banks will significantly address challenges related to menstrual hygiene management and help reduce absenteeism in schools, as well as among female inmates, during their menstrual periods.
Hon. Dauda extended his gratitude to his colleagues for their support in passing the bill. “This bill, the first of its kind in Nigeria, received overwhelming support from all members of the House. Even though we are on recess, we were called back specifically to pass this bill. This clearly demonstrates the strong commitment and support from the leadership of the House and all Honourable Members,” he stated.
