By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

An NGO, Development Initiative for Youths Excellence, Progress and Stability has appealed to the Federal and State Governments to provide free sanitary pads to female students in the country.

Ms Courage Chigere, the founder of the NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  on the sidelines of the fund raising  event for the support of girl-child education, in Abuja.

Chigere  said the provision of sanitary pads  will encourage girls to be in schools rather than staying away whenever they are experiencing their menstrual flow.

”The foundation wants to ensure that no girl is out of school.  But, we cannot do it alone, so, we urge Non-Governmental Organisations to join us in this.

“We also urge the federal government to bring out policies and programmes that will prioritise girl-child education and make sanitary pads free for all girls in the country.

Chigere added that the foundation regularly pays the school fees, and register the girls in JAMB, WAEC and other examinations in the adopted communities across the country to ensure the girls have a better future.

“The foundation tries to provide for all their needs so that they can take care of themselves and go back to school.

“So, we have over 1000 girls in our adopted communities in schools in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country.

“Mensural cycle of the girl-child is not a disease neither is it a sickness. It is something natural.

“But the society makes us feel it is not a natural phenomenon. We are being criticised and stigmatised in the society, because we experience a menstrual period.

“This is not something we created by ourselves. God created us that way. Periods are natural and society should understand and accept us that way.

“This is because, if condoms can be free at some points which are choices, let’s make sure that a girl-child. (NAN)

Edited by Nkiru Ifeajuna/Sadiya Hamza