A medical doctor, Dr Gbemisola Daramola, says poor menstrual education, both in schools and at home, remained a big challenge facing the girlchild in Nigeria.
Daramola made this known at a sensitisation programme on menstrual hygiene in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The programme is organised by Female Professionals’ Book Club, a Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO).
Organised for selected secondary school students, the programme took place at Oba Akinbiyi Model High School, Ibadan.
The theme of the programme is “Discussion on Menstrual Hygiene: A Basic Health Right”
It is in commemoration of the 2023 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The NewsZenith reports that the day is observed annually on the May 28 of the year.
“This is because the menstrual cycle is an average of 28 days in length.
“And people menstruate an average of five days each month.
The medical expert said poor menstrual health and hygiene undercuts fundamental rights.
Such rights include the right to work and go to school for women and girls.
Daramola added that most girls learned about menstrual periods from their friends and not from the appropriate quarters such as the mother and school teachers.
According to her, insufficient resources and school facilities such as toilets, water, soap and proper waste disposal facilities to manage menstruation undermine human dignity.
“Female students do not have access to adequate sanitary facilities during their mensuration, particularly for young girls in Nigeria.
“Many of them have to stay away from school during this period.
“So, we decided to organise this programme to distribute free sanitary towels to girls in public schools.
“We also teach them the importance of menstruation and why it should not be a hindrance to their education.
Also speaking, founder of the club, Mrs Ezinne Ibe, said that the programme aims to expose the students to importance of good menstrual hygiene.
It would also educate them on why menstruation should not hinder the academic process.
She said the NGO selected about 200 students from seven schools in Ibadan North Local Government Areas to benefit from the pilot phase.
“We thank all our sponsors and also our members who donated money for the success of the event,” Ibe said.
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