The World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN), Kaduna State Project Implementation Unit, has trained adolescent girls in the state on how to make reusable pads.
The Project Coordinator, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, who stated this at the opening of the training in Kaduna on Wednesday, said that the goal was to enhance good menstrual hygiene practices.
According to her, the training was necessary in view of the current economic situation that makes buying sanitary pads a huge challenge for young girls.
Muhammad-Idris explained that the measure was to provide young girls with the right information to enable them take care of themselves, health wise.
“One of the key challenges bedeviling the girl child is how to maintain good menstrual hygiene.
“The training, therefore, was specifically designed to give the young girls opportunity to learn more about menstrual cycles, its challenges and some of the hindrances to educational goals.
“The training will also ensure that young girls practice good personal hygiene, which in the long run, will translate to having a good reproductive health system.
“This will ensure society’s survival and propagation once they become adults,” she said.
She added that the programme was also aimed at promoting school enrollment and completion rate, up to a higher level, and help young girls to excel in their learning endeavour.
She explained that the ANRiN project was designed to increase utilisation of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under five years.
She added that through non-state actors, the project was delivering an integrated basic package of nutrition services and adolescent health services to the targeted groups at community level.
“Other beneficiaries were also being reached at health facilities,” she said.
Earlier, Aishatu Jakada, Adolescents Health and Nutrition Officer, ANRiN, said that the participants were drawn from six schools in Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
Jakada added that the training covered adolescent girls in public and private schools, including students with special needs, adding that it would be extended to Kaduna North and Kaduna South Senatorial Districts.
