MAKURDI – The Advocacy Manager of Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Steve Aborisade, has charged governments to take issues of menstruation among girls beyond issues of hygiene, to issues that include providing a conducive environment for girls to enjoy their monthly period.
The Advocacy Manager who disclosed this on the occasion of the World Menstrual Health Day, on Wednesday, said, AHF, was pushing for a society where menstruation was not seen as a problem but, normal with young women and girls.
The Foundation also used the occasion to distribute sanitary pads to students of West African Peoples’ Institute (WAPI); Government Secondary School Lagos Street, Calabar; Henshaw Town Secondary school and Government Secondary school.
The theme of the 2025, World Menstrual Health Day, is “Together for a period friendly world”, just as the AHF menstrual hygiene programme is still ongoing in Abuja and Benue.
While he observed that issues of menstruation has gone far beyond issues of hygiene to issues that include environment, as well as other issues like lack of access to sanitary products, water, stigma and taboos associated with menstruation.
Aborisade also said, “We hope to end the era where girls use different materials that causes complications in their health as sanitary towel,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State government has agreed to partner with AHF, to provide sanitary pads to women and girls in underserved communities of the state.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Edema Irom, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists, emphasized the importance of breaking taboos, just as she said the state would provide access to quality menstrual products, comprehensive period education, and period-friendly facilities.
Therefore, the commissioner called on line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations and communities to collaborate in ensuring that sanitary pads are provided in public places.
She said, “The greatest challenge we have had as a ministry is the provision of pads, even if the pads are made available, another challenge is water and proper toilet facility in schools.
“It will shock you to know that most times women come to the ministry to ask for pad and many girls sleep around for things as little as money for sanitary pads,” she said.
In her remarks at the occasion, Gertrude Egbole, Principal, WAPI who was represented by a teacher in the school,Mrs Ofem Okoi, thanked AHF for the engagement, adding that they take menstruation seriously in the school.
One of the beneficiaries of the engagement, Miss Destiny Udoaka, an SS 1 student of Henshaw Town Secondary School said she was very happy for receiving the menstrual pad from AHF.
She also commended AHF for involving the boys in the engagement because it helps them understand better that menstruation was not a crime but a normal thing that happened to every woman.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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