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Lower Prices of Sanitary Pads - WESNET Appeals

Sanitary pads on shelf's Sanitary pads on shelf's

Water and Environmental Sanitation Network (Wesnet) has noted that prices of sanitary pads have shot on the market, a situation that has resulted in some women and girls failing to access them, especially in the rural areas of the country.

Wesnet Executive Director, Willies Mwandire has told us on the sidelines of World Mensural Hygiene day commemorations that took place at Luzi in Mzimba on Wednesday, that this is despite the that the government removed the tax on sanitary products last year, to make them affordable and accessible on the market.

 ``We had hoped that with the removal of tax by the government last year, these products will be accessible at an affordable rate in all corners of the country, said Mwandira.

 A spot check in some of the retail shops in the country has shown that prices of the sanitary pads have shot from K700 per packet to close to at least K1, 000 per packet.

 Mwandira explained that as Network, they will keep advocating for affordable prices of sanitary products so that girls especially those in rural areas have a chance to access the materials.

Speaking in a separate interview, Dr. Funny Kachale, Director of Reproductive Health in the Ministry says government will try to bring the matter of exorbitant prices of sanitary products to other stakeholders like parliamentarians for consideration.

``We have taken note of these concerns. But what we will do is we will consult further, for possible ways of reducing the prices, " promised Dr. Kachale.

The government in 2021 cut a 16.5 percent tax on sanitary pads to make them more accessible and affordable as a mission to end period poverty.

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