Speaker, the ANC commends the sterling work performed by the North West government by distributing sanitary towels to 300 girl-learners at two rural schools at Dry Harts near the Taung region of the Mompati District Municipality.
It is a known fact that most women, especially on the outskirts of the country, resort to unhygienic practices to survive the cycle. And more often than not, sanitary towels are a luxury for millions of women due to the high levels of poverty.
We are certain that this intervention will contribute positively to the lives of our young girls. We are aware that some young girls miss a significant amount of school hours during their menstruation, largely because of lack of the modern sanitary products, and this contributes to the low-attendance rate, which eventually leads to failure or dropouts.
We call on all sectors of society to follow suit and reach out to young girls.
Over the years, the ANC has mobilised and advocated for a caring society. And as the ANC we say, working together, we can do more. Thank you. [Applause.]