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By Stephen Adeleye.
An NGO, Heal For Africa Initiative, on Monday urged schoolgirls never to stay away from school during their menstrual period, saying “no girl should miss school because of her menstrual period’’.
Dr Kelechi Okoro, Founder of the NGO, told our Correspondent in Lokoja, that menstruation should not be something hidden or to be ashamed of, but to be proud of as a girl child.
Okoro noted that the archaic belief about menstruation had made some female students to be absent from schools, thereby reducing attendance in school and low productivity in academics.
“In fact, some female students are so shy to tell someone else that they are observing their period; even some have to take days off school, so they can hide in shame.
“The girls should rather be empowered with enough information and means to make their menstrual periods more hygienic and comfortable for them, because such beliefs are just mere myths and untrue.
“Menstruation is one of the major signs of puberty for females. It is a major change in the female body that tells her of the transitioning to being a woman,” Okoro said.
She, therefore, advised parents to be closer to their children, especially the girl-child and do more work on them, saying that everything they needed could not be taught in school.
She also urged government and other relevant stakeholders to provide effective WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) facilities in public schools across the country.
She said that the WASH facilities in schools would enable the girl-child to stay comfortable in school during the menstrual period, saying “period is a thing of pride; Period is Period, Period! ”
Okoro noted that her NGO had on May 31, inaugurated an initiative tagged: “Pay Attention To Her (PATH)”, aimed at educating the populace, address health issues affecting women, girls and also promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
“It is our sincere wish that no child stays out of school because of her periods. We are also empowering these girls with enough knowledge to prepare them for a healthy womanhood.
“This sensitisation is going to be a continuous programme that will cut across all schools in Kogi, Nigeria and Africa. We are positive that the PATH project will be a huge success,” Okoro said.
She called on stakeholders, groups, individuals and private organisations to come and support the initiative in reaching out to the girl child as well as to empower them.
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