News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura Makurdi
A Non Governmental Organization (NGO), AIdS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has called on all stakeholders to end stigma and taboos affiliated with menstruation and ensure that women and girls have conducive environment to enjoy their monthly period.
The Advocacy and Marketing Manager of AHF Nigeria, Mr Steve Aborishade made this call in during an engagement with some secondary schools in Cross River to commemorate the World Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD).
He stated that menstruation has gone beyond issues of hygiene to issues that include enabling a conducive environment for women and girls to enjoy their monthly period.
Aborishade also highlighted other needs that needs urgent solution which he said include lack of access to sanitary products, water, the stigma and taboos affiliated with menstruation.
He said AHF is pushing for a society where menstruation would not be seen as a problem but something normal with young women and girls.
“We hope to end the era where girls use different materials that causes complications in their health as sanitary towel,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Cross River State, Mrs Edema Irom, said the Government of Cross River has agreed to partner with AHF to provide sanitary pads to women and girls in underserved communities of the state.
The engagement saw the distribution of sanitary pads to students of West African Peoples’ Institute (WAPI); Government Secondary School Lagos Street, Calabar; Henshaw Town Sec School and Government Secondary School Akim by AHF.
She said the state and AHF was using the event to draw attention to the importance of breaking taboos, ensuring access to quality menstrual products, comprehensive period education, and period-friendly facilities.
While describing the theme of the 2025 celebrate whichis “Together for a period friendly world,” as apt, Irom called on line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations and communities to collaborate in ensuring that sanitary pads are provided in public places.
“The greatest challenge we have had as a ministry is the provision of pads, even if the pads are made available, another challenge is water and proper toilet facility in schools.
Also the Principal of WAPI Mrs Gertrude Egbole, represented by Mrs Ofem Okoi, a Teacher in the School commeded AHF for the engagement adding that they take menstruation seriously in the school.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Destiny Udoaka, an SS1 student of Henshaw Town Secondary School also expressed happiness thanking AHF for the menstrual pad given to them.
She also commended AHF for getting boys involved in the program saying it would help them understand that menstruation is not a crime but a normal thing that happens to every woman.
Our correspondent reports that the AHF menstrual hygiene programme is also going o simultaneously in Abuja and Benue state.
