The government will soon launch a pilot programme to provide sanitary pads to schools.
 
This was announced by the Gender Equality Minister Emma Kantema after Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Leader McHenry Venaani criticised the government for allegedly failing to fulfil its long-standing promise.
  
Venaani stated that many girls continue to miss school due to the lack of hygiene products.
  
“Where are we with sanitary pads? Is the government reneging on a promise of giving sanitary pads to school-going children and young girls, or what is the problem? Is it money policy direction? Why are we not implementing these things? It's so embarrassing when chiefs and people are calling you from regions, talking to a man, and talking about sanitary issues. How can we not resolve this matter? And you are a very able young minister that I have trust in.”
 
Dr Kantema explained that the Ministries of Gender Equality, Education, Health and Finance have completed a concept note and are finalising arrangements to start the pilot in the coming weeks under the directive of the Prime Minister.
 
Currently, the Education Ministry allocates N$15 per learner, both girls and boys, under the school funding policy for hygiene activities.
 
“We have realised that N$15 is not sufficient because it is shared for girls, but it includes boys; for boys, it includes hygienic things like roll-on. We cannot be seen only focusing on the girls; the boy child equally needs to be empowered to make sure that their no missing out on school.” Kantema added.