𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐝𝐬

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Her Excellency, Madam Fatima Bio has on Wednesday 20th January 2021 commenced the distribution of free sanitary pad to school girls within Freetown as part of a nationwide distribution process that will target 60,000 beneficiary.

The distribution exercise started with three schools in the west end of Freetown and was witness by senior government officials including the Sierra Leone Ambassador to China H.E Ernest Ndomahina and members of both Julius Maada Bio Women Wing and Associate and the Fatima and Maada Bio foundation.

In her statement at the distribution event in all the three schools of Lady Patricia Kabba Secondary School, Services Secondary School and Vine Memorial Secondary School, Madam Fatima told the cheerful young girls that menstruation was not a crime and therefore, they should not be ashamed of it.

“Menstruation is not a choice, you need not to be ashamed because it is not a crime” Madam Fatima told the girls and called on them to focus on their education and say no to early marriage and teenage pregnancy.

She said the delivery of the free sanitary pad was in fulfilment of a promise she and H.E President Julius Maada Bio made to provide hygiene sanitary pad to school girls as part of the ‘Hands off Our Girls’ Campaign to keep them in school during their menstruation period.

She noted that the free sanitary pads were safe to use and that it have been certified by UN to be used anywhere in the world. She further that the one pack contain 120 pieces of pads and could last for a whole year. She displaced the pads to girls and explained how it should be used properly, emphasizing that it should not be sold or spoiled.

The First Lady told the girls that against fake news on social media, this was the first time she was giving out free sanitary pads. She added that they were giving the pads to girls not because they could not afford it, but because they believed in their future and therefore want them to stay in school at all time.

The principals of the three Schools, praised both the First Lady and President Bio for the Free Quality Education, noting that most of the girls were in because of the Free Quality Education. She thanked the first lady for the free sanitary pad.Distribution of the sanitary pads to girls climax the event.

Strategic Communication Division

Office of The First Lady

info@officeofthefirstlady.gov.sl

+232 303 68273