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Demonstration of how to use the reusable sanitary pads
By Akanji Alowolodo, Bauchi
Not fewer than 100 girls who are students of Government Day Secondary School, Miri, Bauchi have received reusable sanitary pads from Rotary Club of Bauchi Central.
The reusable sanitary pads were distributed to the girls in collaboration with Al-Wadata Lifeline Initiative under the “Girl Child Self-esteem Project”of the collaborative process.
The girls were also sensitized on menstrual hygiene management, during which a total of 150 reusable sanitary pads were given to them.
Speaking during the programme, the President of Rotary Club of Bauchi Central, Nwobi Chukwunonso said that the aim of the gesture was to ensure that the girls have unhindered access to quality education no matter the period they are in particularly during the monthly flow.
He stated that Rotary Club is network of professionals coming to serve their societies that has been in existence for more than 117 years, adding that the club is active in 201 countries.
According to him, “We are here today to meet with you because we have uncovered a need.We are here in partnership with Al-Wadata Lifeline Initiative who have been working tirelessly to ensure that this event is a success”.
“So, I advise girls to take menstrual hygiene very seriously as it is the most essential part of the life of the girl child”, he said.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of Al-Wadata Lifeline Initiative, Mrs Winifred Robbinson Yusuf said that good menstrual hygiene empowers girls to rise, pointing out that menstruation is a natural phenomenon that must be handled with the utmost care.
According to her, “Every girl menstruates, even though a girl did not menstruate now, she will someday.So, we are going to be giving you some menstrual pads, but this time around, we are not giving you disposable pads, we are giving you reusable pads”
She stressed that, “Reusable pads are very economical because you can use it over and over again, provided you keep it clean,you can use it up till one year.We also giving disposal pads so that your school can start a pad bank, so that when your period starts in school, you don’t need to go home”.
“We will just get a teacher that will be honest enough to keep the pads in school so that any time you period start, she can give you one” she said.
The Al-Wadata Executive Director added that the introduction of reusable sanitary pads is aimed at reducing hygiene poverty among girls particularly the students who come from poor of the poorest background.
Winifred then advised the girls not to be ashamed to mingle with their colleagues because of the menstrual flow stressing that it is a natural thing that every female must experience in life.
Vice Principal of the School, commended Rotary Club of Bauchi Central and Al-Wadata for the items saying that it will go a long way in alleviating the trauma the girls are going through every month.
He assured that the school will encourage the girls to put the reusable sanitary pads into effective use considering the cost of buy regular pads.
The distribution was done at the premises of the School after series of talks and sensitization on menstrual hygiene done by experts in that field stressing the importance of the programme.
