Govt Urged To Make Sanitary pads Free In secondary Schools

By Blessing Bature 

In a bid to strengthen menstrual health education of a girl child, a non-governmental organizations, Development Initiative for Youth Excellence, Progress and Stability Has called on the federal and state government to make free sanitary pads available for students in secondary schools.

The Organization Founder, Amb Courage Chigere made the call in a fundraising event for ScholHerShip and Menstrual Hygiene Project tag the girl child initiative 

Courage said if condoms can be made free which the users have choose, pads should also been made available which the users do not have chooses while urging government to ensure a girl child has all she needs to have Hygienic menstrual circle.

She stressed that girls should have access to sanitary pads in the school to maintain their menstrual hygiene and health, saying her foundation is committed to supporting the girl child to enable her to amplify her voice in society and take her rightful position even as she described them as future leaders.

She explained that as human beings, we face challenges that, if left unaddressed, can unravel the very fabric of our society, adding such critical issues that plague our society is issues that affect the very essence of our future such as inadequate access to quality education and the lack of proper menstrual hygiene among our young girls.

According to her, the girl child, often the bearer of dreams, hopes, and aspirations is caught in the vicious cycle of poverty and limited opportunities. Imagine a young girl, brimming with potential but hindered by the lack of proper education.

She said thinking about the indignity and challenges young girls faces due to inadequate menstrual hygiene, knowing that many women and girls in Nigeria struggle to obtain period products monthly, society see menstrual circle as taboo and stigma in this 21st century, saying this basic biological process, which should be a natural, normalised part of life, becomes a source of shame and impediment to these girls.

She said No girl should ever miss her education because of something as natural as her menstrual cycle.

"we are not helpless spectators. DIYEPS, through its initiatives, SchoolHership and End Period Poverty, has taken up the mantle to bring about change. We believe that every girl child deserves access to quality education and the right to manage her menstrual health with dignity. We believe that by empowering these young girls, we are shaping a future where their dreams are valid and achievable".

As a foundation, we ensure no child is out of school because of menstrual hygiene, we do mentorship, teach them how to make renewable Sanitary pads which is a way of providing skill acquisition because that way, they can make them and sell to others.

She asked NGOs to join hands, stand shoulder to shoulder with these young girls, and to be the change-makers they desperately need.