A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Heal For Africa Initiative, has called on the federal and state governments to include menstrual hygiene education in school curriculum to enable girls adequately concentrate on their studies during their menstrual period.
The project manager of the organisation, Mr Kingsley Ohaneme, made the appeal Thursday in Abuja at a seminar organised for Government Secondary School, Zuba, FCT, to commemorate the World Menstrual Hygiene Day, marked on May 28 annually.
The programme was organised by the initiative in collaboration with True Foundation, Miss Globe 2018 and other NGOs.
Ohaneme said that menstrual hygiene inclusion in school curriculum should cover the provision of sanitation facilities where these girls could properly dispose of their menstrual pads and water facilities to clean or wash themselves properly.
He further harped on the provision of private toilets or places where girls could comfortably go to and change their pad rather than going back home which could obstruct their lessons.
The project manager, who decried a scenario where girls would have to go back home to change pad or dispose of them in the event of stain due to lack of sanitation facilities within school premises. She described this as unhealthy and a limitation to quality education of the female folks.
“We need sanitation facilities and we need private toilets or places where girls can comfortably go to change their pads and go back to class.
“If there is no place for them to privately change their pad, no water to wash clean up they will have to go home.
“So, to address the idea of missing school by girls during their menstrual period, government should prioritise provision of sanitation facilities like water, soap, separate toilets for girls and possibly provide sanitary pad for those that do not have.
“As long as there is a girl that menstruates in the school, the student deserves to have some form of menstrual hygiene education. So we advocate that menstrual hygiene and menstrual management should be included in school curricula across board schools,” Ohaneme said.
The manager specifically noted that many girls are ignorant that their pad should not be on them for four to six hours.
Ohaneme however emphasised that failure to educate them on these issues by their teachers and parents, among others, could expose them to diseases like urinary tract and reproductive tract infections, rashes and bacteria which could lead to other illnesses.
He said girls need to know how to properly manage themselves and their period and this can only be achieved if menstrual hygiene education and management is incorporated in school curriculum.
a volunteer with Heal for Africa Initiative, Ms Patricia Ahmed, who spoke on “Pain management during menstruation”, advised on the consumption of chicken, red meat and food rich in fibre as well as vegetables.
Ahmed further advised those on their menstrual period to ensure regular exercise to ease off associated pains, adding that staying idle during this period will further worsen condition.
“During your menstrual period avoid intake or bathing with cold water, drink and bath with water and eat right as well,” Ahmed said.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of sanitary pad to the students.
