By Lizzy Carr
To mark the International Day for the Girl-Child, Rotary Club of Bauchi Central in partnership with Alwadata Lifeline Initiative and ASHH Foundation under the girls self esteem project donated reusable sanitary pads and tight fitted pants to 80 girls of Government Secondary School, Bayara, Bauchi.
President Rotary Club of Bauchi Central, Rotarian Pam Dauda while addressing the girls said the move is to make learning conducive for the girls during their monthly menstruation stressing that many of them have continued to face are difficulties and discrimination during such period.
“Many girls do skip school during the menstral period because they can not afford sanitary pads and are afraid from embarrassment from their colleagues especially the boys.”
Pam said the self esteemed partnership programme is today to give out reusable sanitary pads to girls who cannot difficult afford conventional pads.
“We have produced reusable sanitary pads that can be recycled and used for a very long period of time. We are giving to 80 girls in this school which can take them for at least six months if well handled.
He said the club ‘s next project will focus on water hygiene and sanitation (WASH) and construction of toilet facilities in some schools that will take care of the privacy of the girl child and her safety.
“We will also provide handwashing facilities so that they will be using it. Girl hygiene is very good and it is not fair for the girl child to mix in the toilet with the boys. We are working towards ensuring that we provide those facilities for the girl child.”
The President said feedback from the last distribution of re usable pads showed that the girls enjoyed it.
“This time around, we are giving 3 sanitary pads with sets of panties so that they are can use. That is one part of it. We also discovered that the lack of toilets for the girls and we are working to fix the toilet issue for them.”
He stressed that, the girl child means the world Rotary as she a mother, sister and is among those to run Nigeria in the future which is why the club wants them to run with time.
“It is a digital world, things are difficult though, time is moving, so we have to move along with time.”
Executive Director of Alwadata Lifeline Initiative Rotarian Winnifred Yusuf said the partnership is to assist the girls and let them know that menstruation is nothing to be ashamed of as it’s part of every girls life.
One of the girls Aisha Isma’il said menstruation has put many girls under much stress as they are always miss school for 4 days every month for lack of things to use during this period.
She added that for the girls, monthly flow period has become a stress, therefore, calling for action to bring relieve and succour to the girl child to enable her overcome the pressure of monthly flow.
“We need more toilet in our school as of now there are no toilets for the girls thereby making it difficult for them to have safe corners.
Emmanuel Augustine a male student said they feel the pains female students during their monthly flow which normally make them miss school for the period thereby negatively affecting their education.
“The girls need to have separate toilets where they can have privacy during this period.”
