Zakari Isah -Kaduna
In an effort to promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls, a non-governmental Organization, Project Smile Humanity Foundation, has distributed over 200 sanitary pads, exercise books, and IEC materials, to female students in Kaduna as part of awareness on Menstrual Hygiene Management.
Speaking during the sensitization program, held at Government Secondary School, Unguwan Boro, Kaduna, the Projectsmile Founder, Miss Comfort Ojo, said the sensitization program was organized to commemorate International Day of Girl Child 2023 with the theme "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being".
According to her, the sensitization program was also organized in collaboration with Kaduna Coalition Against Sexual And Gender-based Violence (KADSGBV) for secondary school female students on how to maintain menstrual hygiene, geared towards enhancing their health.
Miss Comfort noted that many young girls do not know how to maintain menstrual hygiene, adding that a lot of them come from poor families that could not afford to buy pads regularly, hence the need for the donation of free pads to them.
She emphasized the rights of every girl child which include access to information, right to privacy, right to freedom of thought, right to freedom of association, and the right to protection from exploitation and abuse.
In her remarks, the Secretary to the KADSGBV, Koni Wendy Baka commended the founder of projectsmile for Humanity Foundation, Miss Comfort Ojo for her drive to put the event together to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child.
Koni urged the students to always fend off peer pressure "do things that make you happy and make those decisions on your own. While some people might ask you to do something that pushes you outside your comfort zone in a good way, be mindful of any negative consequences that could occur".
She highlighted the ABC method on how to protect their body and how to protect themselves if they want to be sexually active.
On Menstrual Hygiene, Koni urged the students to always maintain environmental and body hygiene, aimed at curtailing being infected with infectious diseases.
Speaking in the same vein, Angel Dominic stressed the need for adolescent girls to pay attention to their bodies and environment.
She explained how the students should take care of their bodies well stay hygienically clean, and wash their private parts properly during and after their menstruation to avoid body odor.
She also encouraged them to always have their bath 3 times a day.
The interactive session allowed the participant to ask questions that were answered by experts.
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