The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), has called on Government to promote the fight for menstrual hygiene of girls in schools in a dignified manner.
The MWAN state president, Dr Chinyere Onubogu, said that there is need for government and relevant stakeholders to support young women and girls to manage their menstruation hygienically while in school.
Onubogu made the call in a press statement signed by MWAN Secretary, Dr Onyinye Nwazor, in Awka on Friday.
She said that menstruation is critical for the wellbeing of every girl and young woman.
She said that hygienic habits are key to the well being of young girls and as such proper care is needed for them.
She said that safe sanitary products such as sanitary pads should be made easily affordable and accessible to menstruating girls and young women across schools in Anambra to sustain the fight against communicable diseases.
Onubogu said that with government presence in schools, challenges faced in achieving hygienic environment for menstruating girls would be fixed.
She said that with the right sensitisation, all forms of stigmatisation and discrimination against women due to folklore and taboos would stop.
“We need the active involvement of government in the fight against poor hygiene environment in public and private schools where the girl child stays so as to achieve this laudable goal.
“If government backs the ideology and puts up the right teaching, the young girls in schools, armed with the correct knowledge about menstruation, stigmatisation and discrimination against women due to folklores and taboos will stop,” she said.is
Onubogu said that adequate WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) facilities and changing rooms should be provided in schools to enable girls maintain personal hygiene during menstruation.
She said that government should, through its instruments, ensure that active menstrual hygiene teaching is fully integrated into primary and secondary school curriculum, school health programme and preventive adolescent health programmes.
According to her, such laid down rules in the school system would encourage healthy living among the menstruating girls and young women and they will be more conscious of their personality.
However, the statement also revealed that the MWAN Anambra chapter has embarked on many activities ahead of 2023 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, with the theme “making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030”.
She said that the annual celebration comes up every May 28 and that the body has done many activities in preparation to joining the global world to celebrate the main date.
“We wish to appreciate the Director, Anambra State Post Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC), Nnewi Zone, Mrs. Amaka Umennadi, the Zonal Director, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Nnewi Zone, Mrs. Pat Mgbenwelu, for their support,” she said.
However, the statement said that other concluding parts of the activities would be done on May 27 before the main date on May 28.
