…. Tasks Stakeholders to initiate policy that would subsidize the high cost of sanitary towels production
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) FCT Chapter on Thursday, distributed free sanitary pads and writing materials to students of Junior Secondary School 1, Jabi in the Federal capital Territory.
This was part of efforts to improve menstrual hygiene of the Girl Child and curb gender based violence in the society.
Bassey Ita Ikpang, the FCT Chairperson of NAWOJ and Nkiruka Okeke, the
Secretary said this in a statement jointly signed on Thursday.
The one day sensitization program was organized by NAWOJ FCT in collaboration with Little Angel Pads
In Abuja.
The Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT, Comrade Bassey Ita Ikpang called on government at all levels to initiate policy that would encourage free distribution as well as subsidize the high cost of sanitary towels to students and women in the country.
Comrade Bassey Ikpang who explained the reason behind the choice of the school, noted that the move was aimed at raising awareness about menstrual hygiene among teenage girls as well as advocating for the accessibility of the sanitary products, while encouraging students to speak out and build the right confidence in them .
Ikpang said: “Public schools needs it more. Some of them do things they don’t even know, that’s why we came here to let them understand that.
“You just have to speak out. It is your right to speak out. If condom is free, let’s make menstrual pads free too.
“Sometimes when you go to some public places you see condom being displayed but you have never seen pads displayed, condom is a choice but menses is natural occurrence that you cannot stop or interfere, and its production is going high everyday and out of reach for our girls”.
On the gender based violence teachings, the Chairperson noted that it was best to involve both the boys and girls in equipping them with the right knowledge to curb the menace.
“When you are talking about gender based violence is not only for the girls. Boys are also violated, so advocacy to end gender based violence can’t be successful when you have not brought in the boys, so they all know what to do per time and what they shouldn’t, and the need for them to speak out on time.
Earlier in her remarks the Vice Principal, Junior Secondary school Jabi 1, Abuja, Rabiatu Abdullahi commended NAWOJ FCT for the apt intervention and called on other women groups to emulate such gestures towards improving the hygiene of girls students.
Abdullahi said: “We appreciate your coming, if others can also do such and invest in our girl child, the society will be a better place.”
Guest Speakers, including the News Manager of independent Television, (ITV), Francisca Ogar and Noami Okomudo of Abuja Royal Women Empowerment initiatives took turns to make their presentation to students on gender based violence and menstrual hygiene, and questions were also entertained .
Some of the students and beneficiaries expressed joy and thanked NAWOJ FCT for their kind gestures and also called on government to make menstrual pads free for students.
Some girls in the school lamented that because of the high cost of sanitary towel, they are now using pieces of clothes, while some say they are using tissue paper and commended NAWOJ for the gesture.
Highlights of the event included distribution of menstrual pads to all the girl students present while the boys were given exercise books.
