United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Nigeria Union of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), has advocated for access to menstrual health and hygiene education in schools in Sokoto state.
Mr Michael Juma, UNICEF Chief of Field Office (CFO) Sokoto state stated this at Menstrual Health and Hygiene Day tagged ” Together for a Period-Friendly World ” organized by UNICEF and NAWOJ on Tuesday in Sokoto.
Juma aid access to menstrual hygiene products is crucial to healthy living, well-being, and dignity of all women and girls in the society.
He said educating people on menstrual health and hygiene is significant to adopting proper menstrual care practices.
The Officer underscored the importance of increased awareness especially among girls that were starting the periods for healthy wellbeing and prevention of infections.
” Beyond advocacy, there need for provision of items to adolescent girls in schools, clear misconceptions, stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation to ensure dignity, integrity and respect for women and adolescents, ” he said.
Hajia Rakiya Abubakar, the NAWOJ Chairperson in Sokoto state, said the partnership was to enhance awareness as well as addressing myth and misconceptions among women and girls in the society.
Muhammad said health educators and experts in education were engaged to educate students on good sanitary practices, body hygiene and prevention against infections causes through improper menstrual hygiene.
She assured to widen the campaign to reach hard reach areas and schools across the state in recognition of the importance of the exercise.
” I believe that, empowering women to take charge of their menstrual health is not just essential, but transformative.
“When women have the tools and knowledge to manage their menstruation confidently and hygienically, they gain a sense of empowerment and dignity that transcend beyond their physical well-being.
“We envision a world where young women and girls are well-guided, inspired, educated, and empowered, ” Muhammad said.
An Educationist, Hajia Fatima Bello, educated the students on body growth and developments up to the period of puberty, symptoms of menstruation, proper management and poor handlings that lead to dangerous infections.
Bello emphasised the need for parent to ensure proper guidance of girls as well as provide sanitary pads and other needs to girls to avoid life threatening diseases.
Malam Zayyana Shehu, UNICEF Officer in charge of HVP vaccination dwelled on the importance of women to obtain the free vaccine in her life time in order to prevent her from cervical cancer.
Asabe Mshelbara UNICEF WASH officer Field Office Sokoto, dwelled on the concept of reusable sanitary pads as a sustainable and cost-effective solution to menstrual period.
Mshelbara led discussions on menstrual experience sharing and the challenges they faced in accessing products in helping them to maintain hygiene during menstruation.
Newsmen reports that no fewer than eight schools participated on literary on menstrual issues competitions and winners received awards and the event featured distribution of reusable sanitary pads to students.
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