BY OGONNAYA UMEHAM, ABUJA
Not less than 350 girls from different schools and communities in the FCT benefitted from pads distributed by the Executive Director of Weekenders Magazine, Princess Joy Idam in collaboration with other NGOs to mark this year’s Children Day Celebration.
The distribution which is done in collaboration with Standup for Women Society (SWS), FCT, Chapter, Pad Up Africa and Child Education & Crime Eradication Foundation is a One-day sensitization programme aimed at sensitizing the girls on proper use of sanitary pads.
The programme was held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council recently.
Addressing participants at the occasion, the Executive Director who also is the Secretary of Stand up for Women Society (SWS) FCT Chapter said the theme for the Soft Project is” securing our future” Which is aimed at ensuring that no fewer than 5 million girls gets the sanitary pads for free from the group.
“We would continue to gather pads and give out to girls in schools, and different communities in FCT”, she said.
She reiterated her commitment towards sensitizing the Girls on proper use of sanitary pads explaining that it is her Organisation’s Social Responsibility to queue into the project.
So far, she explained further that over 500 pads and writing materials were distributed to 350 children who participated in the programme.
She therefore appealed to the government to ensure that girls are given sanitary pads in schools free and make it a policy that must be followed ” as one pack of pad would not be enough for the girls if proper pad use of 4-5 a day is followed”.
Adding that while some girl’s flow is low others dot and some have heavy flow.
She however called the government to secure the future of the Girl-Child, step in and make available sanitary pads in schools for girls to use.
In his good will message Lemmy Ughegbe the Executive Director Make A Difference Initiative, added his voice to the call for gender balance in policies such as this explaining that even when government share condoms women are excluded. He demanded inclusion policy that would ensure distribution of free Pads to Schools for the Girl Child. He commended the group for such an initiative.
Earlier Princess Idam, had explained that the cost of Pads is why some girls resorted to use old wrappers, towel, tissue paper which is a no no and all manners of stuff that if continuously exposed to can damage their reproductive system. And in future they may not give birth.
Liberator Tina Ihejietor, Welfare Officer, SWS FCT who represented the Chairperson, Hajia Fatima Ibrahim-Iyal, thanked Weekenders Magazine for the continuos support and collaboration with SWS and prayed for the partnership to last for SWS to achieve her areas of core mandate. She commended the various schools who responded to the programme and hoped that next year would be bigger and better.
The Secretary NUJ Abuja Council, Comrade Ochiaka Ugwu, appreciated Mrs Idam for the Initiative and prayed the exercise would continue monthly. He also commended the Schools that participated in the programme and assured them that the continue to partner with the schools and put smile on the faces of the girls and would also get those in authority to do the needful through advocacy.
“We appeal to friends, manufacturers of Pads, government elected officials and Captains of industries to partner with the coalition in order to ensure more girls and schools get the Sanitary Pads”, Princess Idam concluded.