MWAN distributes sanitary pads to girls in Kwara School

The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Kwara Chapter, on Thursday distributed sanitary pads to school girls of Agbabiaka Secondary School in Ilorin.

The branch President of MWAN, Dr Bilqis Alatishe, who addressed the school girls, underscored the need for good menstrual hygiene.

She said the World Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual event to create awareness and highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management at a global level.

Alatishe explained that menstruation is a normal body function for female, adding that girls can take care throughout their periods if they know safe menstruation habits.

She advised the girls to maintain their integrity, abstain from immoral sexual practices and be focused on their education.

According to her, there is need for creating awareness about the proper sanitary methods and other relevant information.

The Kwara MWAN president appealed to government at all tiers to subsidise and make affordable sanitary pads to women in Nigeria.

Dr Mariam Shiru of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital said the association is marking the day by sensitising the school girls on need for menstrual hygiene.

“Menstruation is a thing of joy and what women undergo. We don’t need to be shy or ashamed of it.

“It should not also be a reason why a child misses school attendance. So we enlightened the students about different materials that can be used to absorb the blood and how to properly dispose of them,” she said.

Also speaking, Outreach Chairperson of Association of Public Health Physician (APHPN), Dr Mojirola Fasikun, assured the girls that they can use substitute for sanitary pads if they don’t have the means to buy them.

She explained that they can make use of cloth, even though they cannot re-use it because of difficulty in washing.

Fasikun also advised them on proper disposal method for sanitary pads, which she said can be burned or buried appropriately.

In her appreciative remark, the Vice Principal of Agbabiaka Secondary School, Mrs Kudirat Ajanaku, commended the association for reaching out to the school girls.

She however called for more awareness on preventive measures on sexual crimes, noting that the MWAN was able to talk to the students on such issues.