Story from Najib SANI, Bauchi
A non-governmental organization (NGO) ‘Ikra Foundation for Women and Youth Development (IFWYD) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has commenced pieces of training for selected girls in five Local Government areas of Bauchi State on reproductive health and menstrual hygiene.
The founder, Barrister Amina Garuba, during the opening of the training at Women Centre in Ningi local government explained that the program would be conducted in Ningi, Kirfi, Itas Gadau, Gamawa, and Tafawa Balewa local governments.
She said the training was meant to educate the girls on how to cater for themselves during menstrual periods and to produce local sanitary pads.
According to her, many adolescent girls especially those in rural areas do not know much about reproductive health, adding that many poor parents do not provide sanitary pads to the girls hence they shun schools to avoid embarrassment during the times of menstruation.
Amina said the NGO sought support from the United Nations Population Fund to train the participants on reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, and the production of sanitary pads so that they could fend for themselves during menstruation.
She further stated that the girls would be taught sexual and gender-based violence and Coronavirus (COVID 19) preventive measures.
“We discovered that menstrual hygiene is very important to women and it is a right. Many girls in our community see menstruation as something to be afraid or ashamed of. But menstruation is something that women should be proud of because when you menstruate, it means that you can procreate.
“However, since we discovered that it is a topic that is not discussed in the open, we thought it is important that we come and educate the girls so that they can take care of themselves.
“When you look at the issue of pads, they are expensive now and it makes many girls miss schools. They cannot go to school when they are menstruation. So we thought that we should teach them how to make reusable pads, hand sanitizer, and facemask”.
“With their reusable pads, they can take care of themselves hygienically. You can use it, wash and reuse it,” she said.
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