PENGASSAN, WEOG, PadUp Africa, Others Rally To Eliminate Poverty In Schools

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Women Commission (Kaduna Zone) Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG, Nigeria), PadUp Africa, and other non-governmental organisations yesterday called on all levels of government to provide women especially girls with sanitary pads and menstrual materials.

The groups marked the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 by organising a peaceful march in Abuja yesterday, raising awareness, and distributing handbooks on menstruation to students. The handbooks had guidance on calculating ovulation.

During the event themed “End Period Poverty in School Campaign” national president Women Commissioner, Comrade Maryam Mbanaso, and chairperson of PENGASSAN Women Commission (Kaduna Zone), Yetunde Adelakun-Rufus, encouraged the children and stressed that prioritising menstrual hygiene is a step toward better health.

They also urged the students not to hesitate in asking questions to improve their understanding of menstrual hygiene.

Dame Hasiya Hassan Audu, the national external relations director of WEOG Nigeria, emphasised the importance of educating girls about menstrual hygiene, as healthy girls will become future leaders.

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According to Audu, menstrual hygiene awareness is necessary for every woman, but it is crucial to instill this knowledge at a young age. That’s why the focus has been on government secondary schools, which serve as the foundation for awareness and education.

Audu stated that menstrual hygiene education fosters a positive attitude towards menstruation and empowers girls and women to manage their periods with dignity and confidence, paving the way for healthier leaders of tomorrow.

“On this day, we aim to raise awareness among girls about the importance of menstrual hygiene, providing accurate information, challenging stigmas, and breaking taboos surrounding the subject,” she said.

“As women in the energy, oil, and gas sector, we believe in empowering women and bridging gender gaps. This year, for Menstrual Hygiene Day, our focus is on the grassroots—the girl child,” she added.

She further expressed the organisation’s vision for menstrual hygiene to become the societal norm by 2030. Their goal is to ensure that no girl misses school due to a lack of access to sanitary pads or towels and to eliminate the stigma associated with menstruation.

The founder of PadUp Africa, Mrs. Ashley Lori, called on the federal government to include menstrual hygiene management in every school curriculum and ensure that every girl child can stay in school.

Representing the SHIELDGirls2Women Initiative, Ms. Hannatu Ojirobe highlighted the importance of making girls aware that menstruation is a natural phenomenon and should not negatively impact their self-esteem or normal functioning as human beings.