The appearance of the sanitary pads in these small packs was “mind-boggling”, according to women’s health activist Dr Chioma Nwakanma.
They do not represent convenience but rather a more difficult choice as some women are no longer able to afford to cover their whole period.
“Even when it was an eight-pack it was sometimes not enough, so now people buy the sachet and start picking what day to use it,” Dr Nwakanma told the BBC.
[…]
With annual inflation peaking at 18% in March last year, and food inflation reaching 23%, this rise in the cost of living has created what is being termed by some as a “sachet economy”
In addition to sanitary pads, everything from baby food to cooking oil to breakfast cereal can now be bought in smaller portions, which are more affordable as the dramatic price increases have outstripped wage rises.
This is highly troubling. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country by far and has been a cornerstone of African economic and political stability. Let’s hope this is just a blip and not a sign that Nigeria is degrading.
The electoral commission in Nigeria has postponed the 14 February presidential election by six weeks over concerns about the security situation.
Commission chief Attahiru Jega said he had been told troops would not be available to help patrol the ballot because they would be fighting Boko Haram militants in the north-east.
Nigeria and four other states plan to deploy a joint force of 8,700 soldiers.
The election will now be held on 28 March instead.
