Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), a non-governmental organiseation, has sensitised vulnerable girls in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos on menstrual hygiene.
The programme, which took place in Ikotun and anchored by Ireti Resource Centre, an initiative of WRAHP Nigeria, was to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.
According to a statement by the group, issued by its Executive Director, Bose Ironsi, the programme aims to ensure a future where access to menstrual hygiene products is a reality for young girls.
“Youths have the right to bodily integrity and education yet it is alarming to note that a large number of girls are unable to attend school due to a lack of menstrual hygiene products. This in turn impacts their physical, reproductive, and mental health.
“Ireti Young Leadership Programme, an initiative of WRAHP Nigeria aims to ensure a future where access to menstrual hygiene products is a reality for young girls.
“In commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, Women’s Rights and Health Project is organising a sensitisation programme on menstrual hygiene for young girls in Ikotun.”
Sanitary pads were provided for the girls to ensure they no longer face barriers to education and health while menstruating.
The statement further read, “The reusable pads will reduce yearly spending on pads for girls and enable them to have better options than using rags or clothes for their menstrual cycles.
“Through this initiative, the young girls would experience comfort and confidence while menstruating as opposed to the current trends of work/school absenteeism, period stigmatization, and period poverty.
“The objectives of this programme were to:
• Reduce period poverty among 50 vulnerable young girls in Alimosho through the distribution of re-usable sanitary pads
• Enlighten 50 young girls on menstrual hygiene
• Improve the self-worth and confidence of the girls
• Kick-start the Ireti Young Leadership Programme.”
WRAHP prides itself as an NGO with the core mission of promoting women and community health by equipping, mobilising, and actively engaging members of the community as agent of social change through information sharing, capacity building, and advocacy.
It called on the media to join it in empowering the young girls in “our community.”