Day of the Girl-child: Rotary, Alwadata, ASHH Foundation collaborate, gift 80 girls 240 sanitary pads, undies

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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi 

To mark the International Day for the Girl-Child, Rotary Club of Bauchi Central in collaboration with Alwadata Lifeline Initiative and Attah Sisters Helping Hands (ASHH) Foundation on Wednesday donated a total of 240 pieces of reusable sanitary pads and tight fitted pants to 80 girls of Government Secondary School, Bayara, Bauchi. 

The disclosure was made by the President of Rotary Club of Bauchi Central, Rotarian Pam Dauda while addressing the girls at the School premises during the celebration of Day. 

He explained that the move was to make learning conducive for the girls during their days of monthly flow stressing that many of them are facing difficulties during such period. 

According to him, “Today, we are in Government Secondary School, Bayara to mark the 2023 International Day of the Girl-child and also to do an activity to mark the day. We are celebrating it to do something that will impact positively on the lives of the girls.” 

He added that, “Today we are doing self esteemed partnership programme where today we will be able to give out reusable sanitary pads to adult girls for use. We have realuzed that it is very difficult for them to afford the conventional pads which they discard after use.”

“We have produced reusable sanitary pads that can be recycled and be used for a very long period of time. We are giving to 80 girls in this school which can take them for at least six months if well handled,” he added.

The President of the Rotary club of Bauchi Central said on the need for safe corner for the girl child that,”Most of the girls in the Schools use one toilet for use with boys. After this project, we are engaging in WASH programme that will take care of the privacy of the girl child and her safety.”

He stressed that, “We will also provide handwashing facilities so that they will be using it. Girl hygiene is very good and it is not fair for the girl child to mix in the toilet with the boys. We are working towards ensuring that we provide those facilities for the girl child.”

According to him,”Rotary Club of Bauchi Central is embarking on toilets facilities in schools 3 LGAs of the state. We are sending it to Rotary District 9125 to work on it.

On the feedback from the previous exercise, he said that,”We realised that the girls enjoyed the reusable sanitary pads, it was wrongful for them but because they did not have panties with which to use the pads. This time around, we are giving 3 sanitary pads with sets of panties so that they are can use. That is one part of it. We also discovered that the lack of toilets for the girls and we are working to fix the toilet issue for them.”

He stressed that, “The girl child is the world for us, she is our mother, our sister and the once to run Nigeria. At this point in time, we want them to run with time, it is a digital world, things are difficult though, time is moving, so we have to move along with time.”

One of the girl students of the School, Aisha Isma’il lamented that menstrual cycle has put many girls under much stress as they are always out of school for the days of the flow because of lack of things to use. 

She added that for the girls, monthly flow period has become a stress, therefore, calling for action to bring relieve and succour to the girl child to enable her overcome the pressure of monthly flow. 

Aisha Isma’il also appealed for more toilets for the girls in the schools because for now, there are no toilets for the girls thereby making it difficult for them to have safe corners. 

Also speaking, a male student, Emmanuel Augustine lamented the condition of girls in the school especially during their monthly flow which normally keep the girls out of school for the period thereby negatively affecting their education. 

He too joined in the call for more toilets for the girls stressing that the girls need privacy and safe corners in the school so that they can freely change their pads any time the need for such arises.