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By Akpan David, Calabar
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Cross River State Chapter has distributed sanitary towels to secondary schools girls.
President of the association, Mrs Umo Basi-Edet said the exercise was part of the campaign on Menstrual Hygiene to mark this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
Basi-Edet said there is need to enlighten the young ones on proper menstrual hygiene which reason they embarked on the visit to the schools.
She said that the celebration of this year’s world Menstrual Hygiene Day affords the NAWOJ an opportunity to break the seeming silence and taboos while also raising awareness to change the narrative.
According to her, research has shown that women and girls have over the years been faced with challenges in managing their monthly menstrual cycle, and therefore called on groups and governments to emphasise on enlightenment to clear the web often associated with negative social norms such as stigma, taboos, ignorance or the lack of proper education.
“Today is not only an opportunity to raise awareness, but also to strengthen government accountability as it relates to menstrual hygiene management issues, address the challenges and hardships women and girls face during their menstruation period.”
She said the day was also set aside to engage in policy dialogue and advocate for the integration of menstrual hygiene by encouraging government and corporate Organisations to support female menstrual hygiene through sponsorship and policy formulation.
She advised women and girls to be neat at all times and to take seriously every action that will help their menstrual hygiene as it impacts positively on overall population wellbeing.
Comrade Umo BasI Edet appealed to individuals to join hands and support the goal of female hygiene through by making Menstrual products readily accessible.
One of the schools visited was Government Secondary School, Adiabo in Odukpani Local Government Area. The principal, Mr Charles Ekpenyong expressed joy and commended NAWOJ.
