…Recognising pivotal role of menstrual health

By Vera Anyagafu

The TEAM EXCHANGE of the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association (USGEAA), Southern Region, has recently launched its CARE’ project, with theme, Recognizing the pivotal role of menstrual health in shaping the well-being of women and girls in the Nigerian society.

The initiative which aims to empower and support women, especially girls, launched its maiden edition at Igoba Community in Akure, Ondo State with selected secondary schools girls and grassroot women across the State.

The project, proudly sponsored by the US Consulate, Lagos, made remarkable and   tangible difference in the lives of students, grassroot women and residents who participated.

According to the project team leader, Mr Ojuse Omotayo, the TEAM EXCHANGE of the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association (USGEAA), Southern Region,  is keen on Creating Access, Reusability, and Education (CARE) on Menstrual Health amongst women and girls in the society.

He said that, “The  initiative is dedicated to addressing menstrual health challenges faced by girls and women in Igoba Community, Akure, Ondo State, and its adjoining communities. The project focuses on providing education on reusable sanitary pads, and empowerment training on making reusable sanitary pads.”

The program which culminated after several days preparation, Omotayo went on, was filled with activities such as informative workshops, training sessions, stakeholder engagements, awareness campaigns, health check-ups and so on.

“Secondary school girls aged 11 to 20 acquired knowledge about menstrual biology, hygiene best practices, and dispelling prevalent myths. Approximately 100 secondary girls from 5 schools in Igoba Community in Akure North Local Government, Ondo State,  and some grassroot women benefitted from the CARE project.

Many machine sewn  reusable sanitary towels were distributed amongst participants, while  empowerment training expected to equip them with sewing skills, enabling the crafting of reusable pads using traditional needle-and-thread techniques, were also introduced”, he stated.

Going further, he stated that each of the selected secondary schools were provided with sewing kits to support continuous learning and production of the reusable pads.

Corroborating with Omotayo, representatives of the Ondo State Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry of Information and Orientation, and the Ministry of Health, applauded the CARE project respectively, while acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Orientation, Mrs. Toyin Onisile, emphasised that the program’s timeliness, particularly in light of the economic hardships faced by many families is quite encouraging.

Onisile  commended the US Consulate, while also urging Team Exchange to make further efforts towards extending the program to several other states in the country.

“This is a laudable project and I implore the team to extend the project to other states in Nigeria.

You did not just provide sanitary pads,  you educated the students and women on proper usage and cost-effective solutions.  The project should be extended beyond participating schools. Parents should be and sensitised too and  I am also suggesting more outreach programs through churches and mosques as well”, Onisile added.

Also lending a voice, the Chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ondo State Chapter, Comrade Tola Gbadamosi, spoke on the need for comprehensive menstrual health education in schools. She urged students to prioritize hygiene and cautioned against resorting to alternative methods due to economic constraints.

In his own view, Dr. Mayowa Elemile, a lecturer at the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo, who is also one of the resource persons highlighted the project’s long-term benefits.

He noted that educating young people about menstrual health would ultimately contribute to a healthier society.

The Director of Guidance and Counseling, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Akinsida Oluwakemi, on her part,  encouraged the organisers to extend the project to more schools to maximize its impact.

The  two days impactful ‘CARE’ project, which included workshops, distribution of reusable sanitary pads, training sessions, stakeholder engagement, awareness campaigns, and health check-ups, impacted several secondary school girls in the Igoba community in Akure, Ondo State.

Some of the schools that benefited were , Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure, Ijapo High School, Akure, Igoba High School, Akure, Comprehensive High School, Ayede Ogbese, Eji Oba High School, Oba Ile.

However, the Team Exchange, comprising eight beneficiaries of the United States Government Exchange Programs, extends gratitude to the United States Consulate, Lagos, for providing the financial support and having trust in the team to execute such an impactful project.

” As we look forward to replicating this project in other states in the country, we intend focusing more on underserved communities.

We will not relent in efforts towards enhancing hygiene  and equipping girls and women with valuable employable skills and building a healthier life for all,” the team leader submitted.