By Akanji Alowolodo, Bauchi
The problem of menstrual hygiene that has militated against accessibility of quality education by the girl child in Bauchi state will soon be a thing of the past as an international development agency, Plan International Nigeria is set to establish sanitary pad banks in 32 secondary Schools in Bauchi State.
The agency has started the implementation of the establishment of the project with the official opening of the sanitary pads bank at Government Girls Day Secondary School (GGDSS) Manu in Ningi LGA.
While addressing the girls at the official opening of the sanitary pad bank over the weekend, the State Project Coordinator of Plan International Nigeria, Kotex funded Menstrual Hygiene Management Project, Afolabi Ahmed said that the initiative was part of of the strategy towards ensuring that adolescent girls remain in classrooms.
Afolabi Ahmed also said the project has provided 300 sanitary pads to the school at the initial stage with a view to keep the adolescent girls in school even during their monthly menstrual circle.
He further stated that the the out of school indices in Nigeria was so disturbing, noting that most of them are girls due to non availability of simple sanitary pads, which situation according to him should be reversed.
He explained that the Kotex funded Menstrual Hygiene Management Project being implemented in the state by Plan International Nigeria has selected 32 schools across the three benefiting local government areas of Bauchi, Katagum and Ningi.
Also speaking, the Health Educator, Ningi Local Government Council , Musa Idris Abdulhamid said that the 100 Women Group and Male Champion structures put in place by Plan International Nigeria are doing wonderful jobs in enlightening girls and women on the importance of education and menstrual hygiene management.
On his part, the Principal of GGDSS, Manu, Shehu Sanda thanked Plan International Nigeria for siting the Sanitary Pad Bank in the school expressing optimism that it would go a long way in changing the narrative.
Aishatu Muhammad Murtala and Abida Abubakar who are part of the benefitting students said that before now they were not enlightened that Sanitary Pad should not exceed four hours in their body and appreciated the donor for the initiative.
