AS a young Mosotho, I believe the time has come for a meaningful national conversation about menstrual health and the empowerment of women and girls.
Every month, thousands of women and girls across Lesotho experience menstruation, a natural biological process that is neither optional nor avoidable. Despite this, many face financial barriers to accessing sanitary products, resulting in missed educational opportunities for girls and unnecessary challenges for women in their daily lives.
Education remains one of the most effective drivers of national development. However, girls cannot fully benefit from educational opportunities when they are forced to miss classes due to a lack of access to essential menstrual products. No girl should be prevented from attending school or participating fully in society because of her period.
Providing free sanitary pads would support not only menstrual health but also dignity, equality, and educational attainment. It would demonstrate a commitment to addressing the practical needs of women and girls while promoting their full participation in social and economic life.
Women’s empowerment is frequently emphasized in policy discussions and development agendas, yet genuine empowerment begins with ensuring that basic needs are met. Access to menstrual products should be regarded as a necessity rather than a privilege.
I therefore urge policymakers, community leaders, educational institutions, and citizens to support initiatives aimed at providing free sanitary pads to women and girls who need them. Menstruation is a natural part of life, and no individual should face disadvantage or exclusion because of it.
The empowerment of women and girls begins with safeguarding their health, dignity, and access to opportunity. Let us work together to build a Lesotho where every girl can attend school with confidence, participate fully in society, and pursue her future without unnecessary barriers.
Teboho Mohapi is a 14-year-old student from Leribe
