The Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), an NGO, has distributed sanitary pads to about 600 school girls across Lagos and Ogun States.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was in commemoration of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day marked every May 28 globally, to create awareness about menstrual hygiene.
Betty Abah, the Executive Director of CEE-HOPE, said that the sensitisation was to educate school girls on menstrual hygiene practice and also to address period poverty among teenage girls.
“Millions of school girls from impoverished homes are finding it hard to stay in school as they cannot afford sanitary products, a reality which further widens the gender inequality in terms of education.
“As we are here, this programme is also going on in Port Harcourt, to enable other girls to benefit from what we are doing today.
“It is high time our government did something about this menace, even starting from a policy as simple as tax deduction or tax removal on sanitary products,’’ she said.
According to Abah, the sensitisation is also aimed at engaging the students in frank talks on how to prevent rape as it is also a rampant menace targeting mostly teenage girls.
She thanked the individuals who funded the three-state outreaches in the country.
Sola Alamutu, a gender advocate and founder of Jabez Place, a sexual violence prevention organisation, also enlightened the girls on preventing rape and sexual abuse.
Alamutu urged the students to be security and safety-conscious at all times and possibly take training on martial arts and self-defence skills.
“Anyone can be a victim of rape, regardless of gender, age or race and it is important to note that anyone can be a perpetrator, regardless of relationship, gender or age,” she said.
Ande Ogar, an SS 3 student of Perfect Praise School, Olowora, Lagos, said the programme was an eye opener for her.
Ogar said, “I have learnt from this programme that I should uphold personal hygiene during menstruation as that can help a girl to be more confident.
“I also learnt to walk in company of others when going out at night to avoid a rape situation.’’
Mrs Uzorechi Oluwaluyi, the Proprietress of Perfect Praise School, Lagos, appreciated CEE-HOPE for the gesture, which according to her has impacted positively on girls on menstrual hygiene talks.
“People do not talk about menstruation issues often and we have seen cases where mothers do not talk to their girls about it.
“They are either ashamed or do not want to talk about it and this is a great opportunity for these girls to learn about all these issues,” she said.
Also, Anjola Jegede, an SS3 student of Champions International Schools, Ogun State, thanked the NGO for the initiative, while appealing to the government to address pad poverty among girls.
“For the first time, I learnt that there are ways the government can make pads available to school girls.
“This initiative by CEE-HOPE should be imbibed by our government to address some of our challenges as girls,” she said.
NAN reports that a CEE-HOPE’s documentary on period poverty titled Give Us This Day Our Monthly Pads was aired.