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THE Ministry of Finance has tabled a bill in parliament to eradicate taxes on sanitary pads.
This was announced by deputy minister of finance Maureen Hinda-Mbuende in the National Assembly yesterday when she motivated changes to tax laws.
“[The] bill proposes that the supply of sanitary pads be included in the list of items that are zero rated for value-added tax (VAT) purposes,” she said.
According to her, the proposed amendment would result in 0% VAT being charged on these specific products, thus lowering the cost of these products in general.
In 2016, Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani tabled a motion in the parliament that sanitary pads should be made more affordable.
A 2021 report titled ‘Comprehensive Assessment of Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices on Adolescent Girls in Namibia’, reveals that most girls prefer and use disposable pads, but one in four girls cannot afford them.
The report also says only one in 10 girls used reusable pads and that 4,2% of girls missed school during their periods.
The report revealed that only half of schools had toilet paper, and soap was also in short supply.
It said 41% of girls think they shouldn’t run while menstruating, 59% think it’s private, but 52% said they talk about it anyway, and 71% would like to talk to someone about menstruation.
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