Group donates 1000 sanitary pads, sensitises girls on menstrual hygiene

Agency Reporter

In commemoration of the World Menstrual Hygiene day, a group of volunteers donated 1000 sanitary pads to girls in Ipetumodu community in Osun state on Friday.

The team of volunteers, who are interested in humanitarian services that put the Girl Child and Women in focus, said it carried out the project to alleviate cost of procuring sanitary pads and maintaining proper hygiene.

The group was led by a serving corps member, Elizabeth Babtunde. Other members of the team are; Oluwafemi Ajayi, Akanni Toyyib, Ajiferuke Temilola and Ogundare Oluwatoyin.

The outreach commenced with a courtesy visit to the palace of the monarch, Apetu of Ipetumodu, where his chiefs received them.

Asides the donation, the girls, between age 12 and 20, were sensitised on the need to maintain good menstrual hygiene.

Read Also: Northern governors’ wives blame menstrual hygiene on poverty, ignorance

Also, the volunteers visited the primary health care centre at Okooko in Ipetumodu where the health workers were encouraged to keep educating the females on proper hygiene and right use of sanitary pads.

While addressing the health workers, Ms Babatunde said: “In today’s world where being a woman and a girl child seems to be the most vulnerable form of existence, kindhearted gestures such as providing sanitary pad and educating the girl child and women on better hygiene definitely goes a long way.”

“It is sad to note that many females still find the experience of menstruation as a very strange and most importantly expensive ordeal. In the rural areas many young girls have to resort to using rags, cotton wool and tissues to block off their flow every month. Not only is this act a pitiful and disgusting one but also a very dangerous one as it lead to health complications.”

She noted that beliefs and myths about menstruation and menstrual practices still exist in many religious, social, and cultural settings, most especially in the rural areas of Nigeria.

“These beliefs create barriers hindering proper menstrual hygiene and awareness,” Ms Babatunde added.