Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
Pad Up Africa, PENGASSAN Women’s Commission, and other non-governmental organisations yesterday called on all levels of government to provide girls and children with sanitary pads and menstrual materials.
The groups to mark the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023, Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG Nigeria), organised a peaceful march in Abuja yesterday, raising awareness and distributing a handbook on menstruation to students, which included guidance on calculating ovulation.
During the event themed “End Period Poverty in School Campaign” national president Women Commissioner, Comrade Maryam Mbanaso, and chairperson of PENGASSAN Women Commission (Kaduna Zone), Yetunde Adelakun-Rufus, encouraged the children and stressed that prioritising menstrual hygiene is a step toward better health.
They also urged the students not to hesitate in asking questions to improve their understanding of menstrual hygiene. Dame Hasiya Hassan Audu, the national external relations director of WEOG Nigeria, emphasised the importance of educating girls about menstrual hygiene, as healthy girls will become future leaders.
According to Audu, menstrual hygiene awareness is necessary for every woman, but it is crucial to instill this knowledge at a young age. That’s why the focus has been on government secondary schools, which serve as the foundation for awareness and education. Audu stated that menstrual hygiene education fosters a positive attitude towards menstruation and empowers girls and women to manage their periods with dignity and confidence, paving the way for healthier leaders of tomorrow.
“On this day, we aim to raise awareness among girls about the importance of menstrual hygiene, providing accurate information, challenging stigmas, and breaking taboos surrounding the subject,” she said. “As women in the energy, oil, and gas sector, we believe in empowering women and bridging gender gaps. This year, for Menstrual Hygiene Day, our focus is on the grassroots—the girl child,” she added.
She further expressed the organisation’s vision for menstrual hygiene to become the societal norm by 2030. Their goal is to ensure that no girl misses school due to a lack of access to sanitary pads or towels and to eliminate the stigma associated with menstruation.
The founder of PadUp Africa, Mrs. Ashley Lori, called on the federal government to include menstrual hygiene management in every school curriculum and ensure that every girl child can stay in school.
(leadership.ng)
Hits: 0
