• CSOs decry female’s lack of access to menstrual products, facilities
• Say it’s violation of women’s rights
Lagos State Government, in partnership with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), is set to distribute over 20,000 sanitary pads to female students across secondary schools in the state.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, disclosed this during a media briefing to commemorate 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
Ogunyemi emphasised that menstrual hygiene is a public health issue that affects the health, well-being, and dignity of women and girls globally and must be regarded as a fundamental right for women and adolescent girls.
The special adviser explained that the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration, with the theme “Together for a Period Friendly World,” is a yearly global day of awareness and action to promote good menstrual health among women and adolescent girls.
She noted that the event, held yearly on May 28, was significant because the “28” represented the average 28-day menstrual cycle, and the fifth month signified an average of five days of menstrual flow.
She however, urged all stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society organisations, and individuals, to join the state government in advancing menstrual hygiene to ensure every woman and girl can manage her menstruation safely, hygienically, and with pride.
In his remarks, the National Programme Manager, VCDF, James Odey, stated that his organisation would ensure that adolescent girls remain in schools as statistics show that most out-of-school children are girls with issues around menstruation.
Meanwhile, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has said that lack of access to menstrual products and facilities is a violation of the rights of women and adolescents to health, education and dignity.
The group includes Women-for-Women International, Attah Sisters Helping Hand Foundation and others. Kairos Initiative, Child Is Glod Foundation, Alwadata Lifeline Initiative, CARD Initiative, SWOFON, NIWOREN, WOWICAN, LANGA, AIDCODE, Rotary Club Bauchi Centre, among others, said menstruation is a natural and essential part of life, yet it remains a topic considered a taboo in many cultures and societies.
The group said that the consequences of poor menstrual hygiene include health complications, infections, toxic shock syndrome, and reproductive health issues, adding that social and cultural stigma in menstruation is often seen as shameful or impure perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes.
Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajara Gidado, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to the development of children.
She, however, pledged to collaborate with the CSOs and others for effective operations.
