Educate Girl-child On Menstruation, Group Tells Parents, Guardians

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By; MOHAMMED IBRAHIM, Kaduna

A Non Governmental Organisation, Prime Diamond Initiative for Community Health (PDICH) wants end to discrimination and stigmatization of girls on menstrual hygiene.

According to the group, it’s high time parents start talking to their daughters about menstruation.

The Group founder, Chinasa Onukegbe (Nas Ebiere) said there was nothing taboo about discussing menstruation with young girls.

She made this comment at a sensitization programme on menstruation Hygiene and distribution of Sanitary Pads to School girls at Dogon Bauchi, Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

She explained that  the focus of the sensitization was to educate the young girls based on the Sustainable Development Goals SDG on promoting education, good health / wellbeing and gender equality.

Nas Ebiere said Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is giving education on the hygiene and management of menstruation.

Menstruation simply means bleeding from the vagina that occurs in adolescent girls and women as a result of hormonal changes which usually happens once a month and in a predictable pattern.

” Once a girl begins menstruating, she needs to have access to menstrual hygiene products either reusable or disposition pads.

“When none of these is available, it becomes a problem both as a teenager or an adult as they face more problems such as infection or infertility.

“In our environment today, it is still seen as a taboo topic which is hardly ever discussed at home with parents or teachers at school (male/female). They find it uncomfortable to talk about especially where there is no female adult.

” This education is important to discuss with all adolescent (girls and boys)  so the girls do not experience potential embarrassment or trauma if they start their first period without knowledge of what is happening to their bodies.

“MHM requires education, menstrual products, hygiene (toilet, soap and water), health services and positive social norms. These all aligns with Prime Diamond Initiative for Community Health (PDICH) thematic focus in sensitization of young girls along with the SDG goals on promoting education, good health / wellbeing and gender equality,” she said.

She equally added that ” Having access to menstrual hygiene products;

promotes privacy and restores dignity, keeps girls focused in schools, promote safe spaces for girls,increase their confidence, value and respect for their bodies,

“Reduce gender inequality and discrimination, reduce unhygienic practices which causes infection and infertility, reduce transactional sex and teenage pregnancy.

” We call upon all individuals, partners and government to collaborate and end the discrimination and stigma surrounding menstrual hygiene. This can be achieved by supporting and providing free sanitary materials to every girl child in schools and from low income families as having access to menstrual hygiene products puts an end to period poverty. All of these contribute to a healthier and safer nation,” she said.

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