Ten thousand school girls in Anambra State on Wednesday, received a one-year supply of sanitary pad, under the Renewed Hope Initiative of Nigeria’s first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The distribution is part of the national launch of ‘Flow with Confidence’ program, heralding the donation of 370,000 disposable sanitary pads to school girls across 36 states and the FCT, with the theme, ‘Empowering School Girls through Menstrual Health.’
The pads were distributed to the beneficiaries at the banquet hall of the Light House, Awka, by the wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo.
At the event, the Anambra first Lady also launched the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Pad Bank portal, for the coordination of her already ongoing schools’ pad bank initiative.
Distribution the pads, Senator Tinubu noted how menstrual issues have become a challenge to school girls especially at the grassroots, inhibiting aspirations and disrupting the education of the girlchild, adding that the initiative was envisioned to address the challenges.
According to her, no girl should have to choose between her menstrual dignity and her educational pursuit, but all should be able to pursue both without any disruption.
Choice of disposable pads
She explained that the disposable sanitary pads were chosen because of how safe and reliable they are in handling menstrual health.
Tinubu called on the Chairmen of the 774 LGA to take ownership of the pad bank initiative, insisting that the pads are not to be sold.
“A total of N2,550,297,150 was put into procuring the pads from a local manufacturer.
“We urge well-meaning Nigerians to key into the initiative, and support it- so that more young girls in the hinterlands can be reached.
“I encourage our young girls benefitting from the initiative to take care of their health, while pursuing their life ambitions,” she advised.
Speaking on her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Scholl Pad Bank portal, Dr Soludo explained that it was to ensure that the young school girls across Anambra State do not lack the basic products to take care of their menstrual hygiene.
In a lecture, the HIV/AIDS Prog Coordinator, Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr Tonia Mbagwu described menstruation as a normal physiological process for a normal girl child and should not be cause for stigmatization.
She advised the young girls against being intimidated to believe different myths peddled about menstruation, urging them to manage their menstrual health with pride and dignity.
Confidence building
On her part, Mimi Azikiwe, the member representing Onitsha North Constituency One in the State House of Azikiwe, observed that what Senator Tinubu and Dr Soludo were doing with the pad bank initiative is to empower young girls with confidence to handle their menstrual health with pride.
According to her, the initiative is a reminder that leadership begins with care and compassion, reminding the young girls that being on their period is not something to hide about, but evidence that are matured and healthy.
In a presentation, one of the coordinators of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo School Pad Bank Initiative, Jideobi Ogbo said the portal was developed to be able to communicate effectively with school coordinators of the Healthy Living clubs.
“The pad bank portal is basically to help us plan appropriately and ensure seamless running of the pad bank initiative.
“It tells us how many girls were reached across the schools and how the supplies are doing.
“All we want is for the school coordinators to interact effectively with the portal, to give us the needed data so that we can keep the system working efficiently,” he said.
