Foundation sensitises student on menstrual health well-being

A Non-Governmental Organisation, AIDS Healthcare Foundation in partnership with Keffi Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, on Wednesday, sensitised students on menstrual health and well-being, to end period stigmatisation. The Medical Director of AHF Nigeria, Dr. Emmanuel Nwabueze, while speaking at the event, said that the foundation aims at ensuring young girls and women have access to menstrual pads.

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“Some of our girls miss school because they are on their menstrual period. They don’t go to school because their parents don’t have money to buy the products. Some of our girls cannot open up to their parents about what is happening to their body. That is why we are here to advocate and tell people that menstruation is clean, not dirty,” he said.

According to reports, the Foundation instituted a sanitary pad bank in collaboration with the LGA, Keffi Primary Healthcare Agency, and Keffi Ministry of Women Affairs. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is to ensure continuous availability of pads in facilities for girls in schools and out-of-school.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Keffi LGA, Muhammed Baba-Shehu, applauded the Foundation for choosing Keffi LG as one of its beneficiaries for the program.

Baba-Shehu, who was represented by the Secretary of the LGA, Muhammed Adamu said, “We intend to collaborate with the Foundation and we are giving the assurance that we will do our best to contribute to the pad bank. We will also see how we can train our people to produce the sanitary pads to benefit our women and girls,” he said.

Baba-Shehu further urged parents, teachers, and guidance to support their children to end shame and discrimination when menstruating and ensure that they maintain good hygiene.

On her part, the Counsellor, Women Affairs, Keffi LGA, Aisha Basha, said the Ministry was saddled with the responsibility of educating young women and girls on menstrual health and management.

“This is important because we realise that most of our children are shy, especially when they are growing into the reproductive stage. They do not want to discuss any issue concerning menstruation or any changes in their body with their parents, as they prefer to hide and deal with the situation themselves,” she said.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management at a global level.

Wumi/Punch