Anambra students sensitised on menstrual hygiene management

WIFE of Anambra State Governor, Ebelechukwu Obiano says menstrual hygiene management is one of the best ways to handle `shame and dishonour’ associated with menstruation in young women. 

  Mrs Obiano said this while addressing participants at the Creative Ladies Global Resources Awareness and Sensitisation Campaigns on Menstrual Hygiene Management at Emmaus House, Awka. 

  Participants at the occasion were mainly female students drawn from different secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Area . 

  Mrs Obiano said that many girls were ashamed to mention their experiences or go ahead to get materials that would help them to manage their menstrual lives. 

  “It was disturbing to note that menstruation, a natural monthly and harmless occurrence will cause shame, inconvenience and has been identified as key reasons for keeping girls away from schools and other activities, thereby ultimately limiting the quality for their education and chances in life.” 

  The governor’s wife, who was represented by Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Governor on Social Re-Orientation, Dr Mitchell Onugbolu commended the organisation for devising a means for prompt intervention via promotion and distribution of sanitary pads in line with her Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), her NGO. 

  “Your activities are quite similar to what we do at CAFE for vulnerable people in our state, especially women and children for which we have been acknowledged globally. 

  “In the likes of mental rehabilitation, giving of prosthetics, surgery for cleft lips, skills acquisition and provision of houses for the widows.” 

  Founder and coordinator, Creative Ladies Global Resources, Mrs Maureen Okolieukwu said the symposium was intended at educating girls on good hygiene practices during menstruation. 

  More so, “this is to instruct them on how to produce for themselves hygienic homemade reusable pads”. 

  In their separate remarks, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna and Iyom Josephine Aneni, acknowledged that there were many myths about menstruation today as it was almost a taboo to talk about it in public. 

  According to them, menstruation is a mark of honour and without it a woman cannot have babies. 

  The speakers took turns to advise the students on how to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation and dispose off their used pads properly so as not to cause environmental risk, messing the environment and avoidance of drainage and lavatory blockages.

  The event also featured interactive sessions, cash donations to the organisation by Mrs Obiano, distribution of customised reusable sanitary kits by a Anambra Senator, Sen. Uche Ekwunife and handing out of sanitary pads to the participants by various donors.