By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
A girl child in Bauchi state, Ummu Bala Dan has called on the state government to adopt adolescent reproductive health education into schools curriculum as a strategy to promote more understanding about her needs, especially on menstrual hygiene management.
She stated this at a one-day dialogue session on issues around girlchild organized by Plan International Nigeria in Bauchi to commemorate the 2022 International Day for Girlchild.
The theme of the dialogue is ‘Equal Power in Leadership, Decision Making and Political Participation for Girls.’
According to Dan, girls lack adequate knowledge on self-care during their menstrual cycle.
“Most girls lack knowledge on menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health and even their parents lack the awareness or are shy to discuss the topic with their children,” she said.
Dan appealed to the state government and other stakeholders to provide free sanitary pads for adolescent girls in schools to realize their potential in their pursuit for quality education.
“Government should establish pad banks in school where girls can access sanitary pad, especially at rural communities.”
She noted that gender inequality in terms of education, poor access to health care services and sexual and gender-based violence are some of the challenges affecting the girlchild to attain her full potential, especially in areas of digital skills.
Senior Program Coordinator at Plan International Nigeria said the organization targets 10 million girls in Nigeria to strive, decide, lead and learn within five years starting from 2022.
“We have noticed that the issue of transition from one level of education to the next is a challenge to the girlchild and have decided to have this dialogue to discuss on the girl-child, her family and community what are her issues.”
The executive chairman of Bauchi State Primary Health Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed appreciated interventions by implementing partners in various sectors.
Represented by the Gender Desk officer at the State Ministry of Health, Zuwaira Baba said the state has introduced health interventions for adolescents and youths as well as integrated services in health facilities.
