ECOWAS engages Senegalese govt on sanitary napkin factory initiative to improve women’s health
In a move to bolster women’s health and hygiene across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a pivotal consultation meeting with the Senegalese Ministry of Family and Solidarity on a groundbreaking project to establish a Hygienic Napkin and Nappy Manufacturing Unit in Senegal.
The meeting, organized by the ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Human Development and Social Affairs (HDSA) through the ECOWAS Gender Development Center (EGDC), was convened in the conference room of the ministry in Dakar.
Led by Commissioner Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, the high-level delegation included the Director of the EGDC, the Acting Director of Legal Affairs, and the Director of Administration and General Services of the ECOWAS Commission. Speaking on the project’s significance, Commissioner Sarr emphasized its transformative potential. “This initiative is not just about manufacturing sanitary products; it is a milestone for improving women’s health, creating jobs, and fostering regional development.”
The proposed facility is expected to address critical challenges in accessing affordable sanitary products, particularly for underprivileged women and girls, while also promoting menstrual hygiene awareness. The collaboration with the Senegalese government reflects ECOWAS’s commitment to advancing social welfare and gender equity in the region.
The meeting marked an essential step in finalizing project plans and strengthening partnerships. Both parties expressed optimism about the factory’s impact on local communities and its alignment with regional integration goals. The initiative highlights ECOWAS’s broader vision for empowering women and fostering sustainable development across its member states.
Further updates on the project are anticipated as ECOWAS and Senegalese authorities work towards its implementation.
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