…Advocates Free Distribution Of Sanitary Pads
From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The outgoing President of Rotary Club of Bompai, Rotarian Wale Koiki, on Monday decried the rising cost of sanitary pads, while advocating that good spirited individuals, coorporarte organizations, government and sanitary producing companies should make the product available and affordable so as to enable young girls maintain hygiene during menstruation.
Koiki spoke during a programme to mark the World Menstrual Hygiene Day organized by Rotary Club of Bompai, held at Government Girls’ Arabic College, Goron Dutse, Kano.
According to him, “the cost of stanitary pads are quite on the high side and unaffordable for many girls. This should not be the case because menstruation occurs whether a girl wants it or not.
“Therefore, government, stakeholders and pads producing companies have a civic responsibility to make pads free or affordable.”
He said, Rotary Club of Bompai is committed to help accelerate progress towards a world where no girl is held back in anyway just because she menstruates.
Resource persons from the Rotary Club of Bompai tutored students and female teachers of the College, on the best way to ensure menstrual hygiene.
They also donated and distributed menstrual pads worth over N100, 000.
The Coordinator and chairlady of the Organizing Committee, Rotarian Bala Baliqis, said the Rotary Club of Bompai decided to organise the Menstrual Hygiene Sensitization and Sanitary Pad Distribution outreach because menstruation is an integral part of every girl’s life.
She regretted that even with the above stated fact, “yet approximately 1.2 Billion women across the world do not have sufficient access to sanitary products and very few have menstrual hygiene education.
“According to UNICEF, 1 in 10 African girls miss school due to period (menstruation). That is about 20% of a school year. A girls should never be held back because of her period.”
The Director of the College, Hajiya Umma Abdulkadir, expressed excitement over the programme and thanked the Rotary Club of Bompai for tutoring students of the College on such important topic.
The Director who spoke through the Vice Principal (Admin), Hajiya Aisha Salisu Kabara, said, “we feel so excited over this programme because it has to do with the health of our students and female teachers.
“In fact, menstrual hygiene is an integral part of our agenda in the College, and we are very grateful to the Rotary Club of Bompai for bringing such a beautiful programme to the College.
“I want to tell you that we have been teaching our students the rudiments of menstrual hygiene. It is part of our Curriculum under Health Education.”
She further hinted that Government Girls’ Arabic College has a population of over 2, 340 students on boarding and day.
The school has three section: Grammar, Arabic and Tahfiz (specialization on Quran recitation).
“We have participated in many Quran recitation competeiom and won laurels. We also also won trophies in sports competition. Our students are also doing well in essay competition,” she added.
The World Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated on May 28 annually.
