The teen girl, her hygiene, health and the rest of us: Assist the girl project(AGP) to the rescue.

An NGO "Assist the girl project (AGP) has identified a major area in the life of teen girls where most Nigerians show little or no interest.

Menstrual period, proper use of pad and good hygiene during the period.

The founder of the NGO Mrs. Ngozi Umeh revealed that many Nigerian teenagers know close to nothing about the period cycle and what to do while it lasts. She once watched a documentary where it was revealed that many Nigerian teenagers pick used sanitary pads from waste bins, wash and reuse them; an act that could cause serious health problems which includes but not limited to infection, terminal sicknesses etc.

As part of her little effort to contribute to better the society especially in educating the teen girl, she set up an NGO; Assist the girl project (AGP). The NGO was set up mainly to educate young girls and provide them all the information they need concerning menstrual period and how to go about it. Young girls must understand that it is a part of their life and there is nothing they can do about it, instead they should learn to manage it and take care of themselves; she said. Speaking further she encouraged parents especially the women on the need to provide early teachings about menstrual period and the issues around it, rather than shying away from it and letting their daughters learn about it the wrong way.

Mrs Umeh in a bid to educate more girls and provide succour for them called her friends from Nigeria and abroad intimating them of her idea and together they pulled funds together to carry out the project which includes; Educative sessions and providing free good quality pads to the young girls.

The first phase of the project commences tomorrow at community secondary school Amichi targeting over 300 young students and hopes to continue the project on quarterly basis.

She appealed to well meaning Nigerians to key into similar projects or start up one themselves as the high cost of sanitary pads in the market has made it difficult if not impossible for these young girls to keep up with the necessary hygiene required within their period days stressing further that everyone has a role to play in the life of the teenage girl around us.