By Murtala Ahmed Mustapha
Bauchi State Assembly has passed into law the bill for the establishment of sanitary pad banks in schools across the state for adolescent girls to have easy access and ensure retention.
The bill, an amendment to the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board Law 2012, was moved for third reading by the Chairman of the Committee on Health and Human Services, Dauda Lawal Sade, representing the Sade Constituency of Darazo Local Government Area.
During the plenary session, presided by the Speaker, Abubakar Sulaiman was passed into law in presence of 25 out of 31 members who supported the motion.
The Speaker who stressed the bill’s importance for the welfare of adolescent girls, commended the Assembly members, Civil Society Organisations (CSO), development partners and the media for their unwavering commitment, emphasising that the bill would have positive impact on the development of people in the state.
Presenting the amended bill prior to the final legislative proceedings, Committee Chairman, Dauda Lawal Sade explained that the committee had begun its work on the bill in November last year.
He said aim is to ensure that schoolgirls have easy access to sanitary pads in their respective institutions, noting that it would support personal and menstrual hygiene management, enhance educational inclusiveness, and help prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
In separate remarks, Executive Director of Attah Sisters Helping Hands (ASHH) Foundation, Ms Comfort Attah and the Executive Director, Child is Gold Foundation (CIGF) Elizabeth George expressed their delight, describing the members and leadership of the Assembly as pacesetters in the country.
They urged the Governor Bala Mohammed to give the law an accelerated assent for onward implementation, noting that the it would ensure easy access to sanitary pads for schoolgirls.
The CSOs were funded by Women For Women International (WFWI) with support from Foreign Common Wealth Office (FCWO) UK.
The session also saw the attendance of women’s groups, development partners, and other community members, who held placards bearing messages of appreciation.
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