A non-governmental organisation, Bella Foundation for Child and Maternal Care, on Tuesday, took advocacy for the emancipation of the girl child to a new level when it donated menstrual kits to female students.
The donation of the menstrual products was to commemorate this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day. The donation was done in partnership with EVOCA Foundation and NOMMONTU Foundation groups.
The group, which visited the Araromi Senior High School at Amukoko, along Orile-Mile 2 Expressway, donated menstrual pads and other items to several female students of the school worth over N1.5 million.
READ ALSO: http://Again, Court orders forfeiture of $1.7m linked to Emefiele
Founder of Bella Foundation for Child Care and Girls/Women Speaks Ambassador, Amb. Bella Akhagba, while speaking to journalists at the event, said that the Foundation has as its focus improving the health and development of children, youth and women in the state as a first step.
Her words, “We decided to organise this programme in this public school because we want to sensitise young people on the importance of hygienic practises during menstruation and also the importance of using good and quality menstrual products during their periods.
Amb. Akhagba maintained that research has shown that “a lot of young girls do not have correct information on menstruation; they do not have access to menstruation products. Sometimes, their peers gave them wrong information on menstrual hygiene.”
READ ALSO: http://Kano South stakeholders reject new Kano Law; want dissolved Emirates back
A Facilitator at the programme and SSA on Women Affairs Lagos Mainland Local Government and also the Community Development Secretary at the Council, Madam Prudence Gogo declared at event that poor information and economic crisis in the land are part of the factors militating against good menstrual procedure especially for the girl child.
Speaking after the programme, Madam Prudence said that “We have taught them how to be clean and maintain cleanliness during their menstrual period which is a stage into motherhood. When they see their periods they need to make use of good sanitary pads; they need to clean themselves regularly; they need to change regularly and they need to be very careful for the type of soap they use.
“They can use soap to wash the external part not the internal part of the vagina to avoid infections. They also need to be careful for the type of pads they use because some pads cause rashes. If they are not careful with themselves, they can have germs that will penetrate into the vagina and later cause infections”.
Some of the students beneficiaries spoken to expressed their appreciation for the donations and especially the knowledge they received from organisers of the event.
