🩸 Menstruation Is Not a Choice – But Sex Is!

Call for Policy Formulation on Free Sanitary Pads for Girls in Zambia

At My Helping Hand Foundation, we believe that no girl should miss school, suffer shame, or risk infections simply because she cannot afford sanitary pads. Menstruation is a biological necessity – not a lifestyle choice. Yet across Zambia, thousands of girls are forced to use unsafe alternatives or miss school altogether during their periods.

Meanwhile, condoms – which relate to a personal choice – are freely available in public institutions.

We are calling on the Government of the Republic of Zambia his excellence Hakainde Hichilema to formulate and implement a national policy that mandates the free and consistent distribution of sanitary pads in schools, clinics, and other public institutions, just like condoms.

Why This Matters:

• Education Equity – Girls miss 3 to 5 days of school monthly due to lack of sanitary pads. This deepens gender inequality in education.
• Health & Dignity – Using unsafe materials increases risks of infections and trauma.
• Human Rights – Access to menstrual hygiene is a matter of dignity and gender justice.
• Gender Equality – If we can freely distribute condoms, we must equally support menstrual health.

We urge Members of Parliament, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Zambia's Gender Ministry to treat menstrual health as a national priority and create a Menstrual Health Policy that:

• Guarantees free sanitary pads for all girls in public schools
• Includes budget allocations in national and district health and education plans
• Promotes local production and procurement of pads to support the economy
• Integrates menstrual health education in the school curriculum

📢 It's time to end period poverty.