By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
… As Bauchi school girls demand menstrual-friendly environment
Adolescent school girls and Female Corps members in Bauchi state have been sensitized to see menstruation as part of what made them girls and not inferior to their male counterparts.
The assertion was made by the Executive Director of Alwadata LifeLine and Period Reality, Mrs. Winifred Yusuf during a sensitization meeting held on Friday as part of the activities marking the 2024 International Menstrual Hygiene Day for school girls and female Corps members in Bauchi.
They were also told during advocacy for a menstrual-friendly environment to go about the monthly exercise with the best frame of mind.
The sensitization was organised by Kairos Initiative, Al-Wadata LifeLine and Period Reality in collaboration with Attah Sisters Helping Hands Foundation, CARD, Rotary Club for selected girls from Secondary Schools and Female Corps members as Champions of menstrual awareness.
Winnifred Yusuf advocated for focal persons in schools who menstruating girls can talk to for proper education.
She explained that many of the girls face stigma from community, schools and public places.
She also urged School managements to use part of the parents-teacher Ascension fund to create a pad bank where poor girls can benefit.
The organisations jointly urged school administrators to provide functional Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, and appoint a dedicated school teacher who gives information about menstrual cycles.
One of the schoolgirls, Abigail Johnson, who spoke on behalf of others, said that the government should intervene in regulating the prices of menstrual pads or subsidise for young girls.
According to her, “This thing can be very traumatising when the society sees the period as a taboo. Where there is no proper privacy to change pads, it can be injurious to health and all these discourage retention in school.”
A cross section of the school girls and female Corps members