By Abbas Bamalli
The wife of Katsina State Governor, Zulaihat Radda, says no girl should miss school due to menstruation, intensifying efforts to promote hygiene and girls’ education across the state and region.
Radda spoke during the distribution of sanitary pads to schoolgirls under the Renewed Hope Initiative led by the First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu, in Katsina as part of a major outreach programme.
She said the programme targeted challenges faced by schoolgirls, especially in rural communities, who often skipped classes due to lack of access to sanitary products and basic hygiene education support services.
Radda described the situation as unacceptable, stressing menstruation should never be a barrier to education or personal dignity for any girl in the state at any time or under any circumstances.
She urged society to ensure no girl missed classes because of menstruation, adding that every girl deserved a safe and supportive learning environment to thrive and achieve her full potential without fear.
“Under the initiative, about 10,000 schoolgirls will receive a year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads as part of a nationwide intervention targeting 370,000 beneficiaries nationwide to improve menstrual health outcomes overall.”
She said the programme aimed to provide hygiene products while restoring confidence among young girls and eliminating stigma often associated with menstruation in communities through awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagement efforts.
Radda called on local authorities to ensure effective distribution of items, urging community leaders and stakeholders to support and monitor the process for transparency and accountability across benefiting schools and communities.
She appealed to corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the government in expanding the initiative’s reach and sustaining support for girls’ education statewide in underserved rural and hard-to-reach areas.
Health Commissioner Musa Adamu-Funtua, described the initiative as timely and important for improving hygiene practices and overall well-being of young girls across the state while promoting public health outcomes for the future.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
