As part of efforts aimed at addressing ‘period poverty’ and keep girls in school, President of Medical Women Association, Osun State Chapter and wife of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Dr. Sekinat Bola -Oyebamiji recently donated 2000 menstrual pads to hundreds of teenage girls in Apomu Kingdom in the state.

Bola -Oyebamiji said: “the issue of menstrual hygiene is a key health issue, which every girl confronts growing up. The challenge could be more overwhelming if and where resources to handle this natural event in human life are lacking or barely existing.”

She added, “we owe the girls the duty to give them appropriate knowledge and orientation that would help them function as individuals and group in the society. It would also help situations where girls are absent from school as a result of confusion and stigma of menstruation. Many girls miss school or withdraw socially because they lack pads or basic information. Today we’re fixing both. If we want our daughters to lead, we must first remove the barriers that silence them every month.”

On her part, the organiser of the event and Queen of Apomu Kingdom Olori Janet Afolabi noted, “period poverty” is one of the causes of absenteeism for girls in in rural areas.”

Afolabi, who is also CNN award winning journalist, added, ‘the education part is what will stay with the students for life. Menstrual education is an investment in leadership”

The sanitary pads were distributed to students from public and private secondary schools across the town.

The donation was paired with an interactive session led by nurses and female educators on menstrual hygiene, debunking myths, and building confidence around puberty.

School principals present commended the donation, noting that “period poverty” is a major cause of absenteeism for girls in rural communities.