By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja – Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa (YISHDA), an NGO, on Thursday, took its campaign on menstrual hygiene to women and girls of Wassa community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The organisation’s Director of Communication, Mr Moses Agbara, said that the campaign was in collaboration with notable NGOs in commemoration of the 2018 International Day of the Girl-Child.
Agbara added that the event was aimed at empowering women and young girls with adequate knowledge and ensuring that their everyday activities was not interrupted by menstruation.
He said “most women and girls in rural communities face hard times in managing their monthly menstrual cycle.
“This is due to the absence of affordable menstrual hygiene kits, inadequate menstrual hygiene education and traditional believes that consider menstruation a taboo.
“The absence of facilities such as toilets and clean water is another area of concern to women and girls, making some of them to use rags and other unhygienic materials that can lead to ill health.”
Agbara added that the outreach focused on menstrual hygiene tips, estimating monthly menstrual cycle at the commencement of puberty, abnormal signs to look out for in ensuring wellness, among others.
He urged government at all levels and well-meaning Nigerians to assist women with sanitary pads and other reproductive health services to improve menstrual hygiene in the country.
Highlight of the event include free distribution of recycle menstrual hygiene kits to participants at the event.
The UN International Day of the Girl Child is a day fixed by the world body to celebrate every girl across the globe, and to make economies more inclusive and dynamic, families more resilient and communities free from fear, violence and poverty.
(NAN)
