THE ANC Youth League wants the government to make the provision of sanitary towels to young women a human basic right.

Like free food parcels, the league wants young women from poor families to have access to free sanitary towels throughout the country.

Speaking during the official launch of the Free Sanitary Towels campaign at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane yesterday, ANCYL secretary Vuyiswa Tulelo said: "If the government can hand out free condoms and free prevention methods on HIV and Aids and unwanted pregnancy, then why can't it make the provision of these towels free?

"We are not asking whether or not they can, we know there is money and we want it done as in yesterday," she said.

Tulelo said one woman needed only three packets of towels containing four pads.

She said traditionally, women's menstruation cycle differs, depending on the geographical location in which they live.

"For example, a woman who lives in Gauteng can use one or two pads a day, while those living in hot areas such as Limpopo and Northern Cape can go up to four a day.

"But on average the cycle can last between three to seven days in all women, unless there is a problem."

The pads would first be distributed free to poor young women and later to women in general, depending on the availability of funds.

More than 1000 young women from all the ANCYL branches in the province received one packet each.

Addressing the media, ANCYL provincial secretary Jacob Lebogo said the distribution was not a once-off process, but would continue on a monthly basis depending on the availability of funds.