The wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, has called for actions to address issues around menstrual hygiene as well as creation of more awareness to change the negative social norms around it.

In the same vein, Prime Diamond Initiative for Community Health (PDICH) has said it aims to empower over 500 women through the production and distribution of sanitary products in Plateau State.

Also, the Centre for Media Advocacy for Mother and Child (CAMAC) has distributed free sanitary pads to 100 girls from Abakwa Community in Kaduna North and Government Secondary, Ungwan Boro, in Chikun Local Council.

The Executive Director of CAMAC, Alex Uangbaoje, described the gesture as a continuation of a campaign launched in 2020. During an event yesterday to mark the World Menstrual Hygiene Day at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Mrs. Abiodun said it was imperative for the girl to have proper and adequate knowledge about her monthly cycle to remain healthy and attain quality education.

Theme of this year’s edition is ‘Action and Investment in Menstrual Hygiene and Health’. According to her, no young girl should be deprived of education due to ignorance, which had led some girls to make poor personal decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, resulting in early pregnancies and child marriages.

She condemned some communities with cultural and religious bias for menstruation, submitting that such had deprived a lot of girls of educational opportunities, impeding women and girls around the world from reaching their full potential and causing a general deterioration in health.

She called on entrepreneurs and investors to produce sanitary pads, urging environmentalists to also offer reusable pads.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, in his goodwill message, appreciated the various initiatives of Mrs. Abiodun towards the wellbeing of Ogun people, particularly women.

Meanwhile, PDICH expressed concern that a large number of girls in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities, do not have access to sanitary protection, thus obstructing their access to education, economic and social activities.

Founder of the initiative, Chinasa Onukegbe (Nas Ebiere), noted in Abuja at the weekend that this not only individuals’ life would be affected but also career prospects a well as the entire community they live in.

https://m.guardian.ng/news/ogun-governors-wife-urges-action-on-menstrual-hygiene-issues/

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