By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Kwara Government and some NGOs in Ilorin have distributed menstrual pads to 100 schoolgirls at the Kwara State School for Special Needs.
Speaking on the sidelines of the programme, Mr Buhari Oladimeji, the Adolescent Health and Development Officer of the Kwara Ministry for Health, explained that the event was a commemoration of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
He explained that the day, celebrated every May 28, was shifted due to the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir on the day in the state.
Oladimeji stated that menstrual health was a fundamental aspect of human rights, dignity, and public health.
According to him, the day is also dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM).
“We are commemorating the day by associating ourselves with the vulnerable in the community, especially adolescent girls with special needs, ranging from the blind, deaf and the intellect impaired,” he said.
Oladimeji also observed that good menstrual hygiene was crucial for the health, wellbeing, and empowerment of girls in the state.
“It plays a critical role in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential,” he said.
The official advised the girls to be confident and not feel ashamed with what he described as a normal biological process.
Oladimeji emphasised the need to sensitise the girls to the misconception, cultural and religious taboos surrounding menstruation.
In her appreciation remarks, the Principal of the School, Hajia Rasheedat Jubril, commended the government as well as developmental partners for reaching out to the students and sensitising them to menstrual health hygiene.
Jubril stated that the sensitisation would help female students to understand and prioritise the health of their body, adding that the health education will linger in their memory for a long time.
Also, Mrs Kudirat Adeleke, a Registered Nurse at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), sensitised the students to the importance of cleanliness during menstruation.
She advised the students not to be scared about menstrual cycle, adding that it is just a regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Fatima Sule Abdullahi/Bayo Sekoni
