A Non Governental Organization (NGO), Lola Cater for the Needy Foundation, has launched an awareness campaign on the menstrual cycle, sexual and gender-based violence among students at Junior High School, Karu, Nasarawa State.
The founder of the foundation, Ms Ololade Ogunnubi, said the campaign was part of the activities to mark this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day, which would be celebrated globally on May 28, to raise awareness of the importance of good menstrual hygiene management globally.
Ms. Ogunnubi said the event, which is themed; “Debunking Menstrual Myths” was organized in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services.
She said the organization decided to take the campaign to students at the grassroots to shatter misconceptions about menstruation and raise awareness of the need to promote good menstrual hygiene.
“We are presenting this campaign to school children in five states FCT, Nasarawa, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo and we are not limiting it only to female students, we want male students to learn about it as well”.
“The event which kicked off on Monday May 24 in Nasarawa State will last until June 11 and will include discussions on menstrual hygiene management, water, sanitation and hygiene practices, as well as sexual and gender-based violence”.
“We also subject them to different sanitary products and how to use and dispose of them properly”.
“We intend to create a culture that welcomes discussions without shame and to provide adequate education on these topics for boys and girls”.
“There are children who stay away from school every time they have their period because of a lack of menstrual hygiene management products, which is not meant to be,” he said. she declared.