Abuja-Days for Girls International, an NGO, on Thursday solicited the support of the Federal Government on the maintenance of recycled menstrual kits.
Mrs Celeste Mergens, Executive Director of the NGO, made the appeal during a courtesy call on the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mr Ezekiel Oyemomi, in Abuja.
Mergens said that maintenance of menstrual hygiene was paramount for women and girls especially those in the rural areas.
She added that the organisation had menstrual shield designed for easy carriage, sustainable, and economical which has two to four years durability.
“The menstrual sanitary flannels are made of soft fabrics with a shield to help the flannels stay in it and liquid proof in the shield to absorb liquid.
“This menstrual flannels can be layered depending on the variability of the woman’s flow and can be removed, replaced with a clean one and kept in a zip lock water proof bag to control blood smell, until the woman gets to a comfortable place to wash up with minimal water and toilet soap,” said Mergens.
Mergens said that each menstrual kit was attached with a chart to assist the woman/girl study her cycle and possibly when she could get pregnant.
Dr Ugochi Ohajuruka, the Country Director, Days for Girls stated that the materials for the production of the menstrual kit had been sourced from Nigeria and the organisation was ready for production depending on the order from clients.
Ohajuruka also said that the local branch of the group would be organising training for women and girls to enlighten them on how their menstrual and reproductive system works.
Dr Ezekiel Oyemomi, the permanent secretary lauded the initiative, adding that it needs networking especially in the rural settlement to be widely welcomed.
The Director, Gender Issues in the ministry, Mrs Esther Mshelia, advised the group to engage in branding, potency and ensure they develop the logistics for the business module.
According to Mshelia, it is important for the group to train women on good financial management skills to encourage them use the production of the kit source funds locally for survival.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Also Dr Wafada Balami, Director, Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, said the ministry would register the group as partners and encourage their initiative.
“We will approve the work plan; we are willing to work with you because it is a way of addressing the problems of women and we need to pursue this aggressively.
“Another meeting can be expanded after we must have analysed the work to plan on the way forward,” Balami said.
He thanked the international organisation for showcasing their initiative in Nigeria, adding that it is a privilege.
Mr Ishaya Isah, Coordinator for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), promised to assist in promoting the initiative to NGOs interested in helping internally displaced persons.
Isah added that women need a comfortable environment to survive in which the reformed menstrual kit could enhance their hygiene. (NAN)