Rotary, Association Train Women In Menstrual Hygiene, Reusable Pads

Rotary District 9127, in collaboration with the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), FCT, and the Rotary Club of Abuja Harmony, has trained 150 women and young girls in menstrual hygiene and production of reusable sanitary pads.

The training, held on Wednesday, was designed to promote proper menstrual health practices, reduce period poverty, and equip participants with practical skills for economic empowerment.

At the event, the immediate past district governor of Rotary District 9127, Mike Ukachi, the initiator of the project with sponsorship from Frangrance Oil Int’l Manchester UK, said it was part of a broader public health effort to raise awareness on menstrual hygiene practices, and build skill and knowledge on menstrual hygiene through the making of reusable pads.

He explained that the project originated from discussions in Manchester, United Kingdom, during his tenure as District Governor, where support was secured for   community-based interventions.

According to him, a similar programme was organised the last rotary year as the District Governor where 400 school girls were trained.

Ukachi disclosed that the next phase will see 3,000 girls trained in Jos over the coming months, after which the initiative will be extended to other states.

He noted that the project was fully funded, with proceeds from the company’s business reinvested into community development, adding that the focus remains on impact rather than recognition.

He urged participants to pass on the knowledge and skill gained to younger girls and other women, while also highlighting the availability of the sewing machines at the Rotary centre to continue the training and donated two sewing machines to POWA.

Also speaking, the charter president of the Rotary Club of Abuja Harmony, Rtn. Francis Umeh, said the programme equips participants with practical skills that can be developed into sustainable businesses. He described reusable sanitary pads as cost-effective, chemical-free, and environmentally friendly.

Umeh noted that the initiative targets vulnerable groups, including widows within POWA, providing them with opportunities for economic empowerment.

He also called for increased awareness to address the stigma surrounding menstruation.

In his remarks, the Assistant Governor of the Rotary Club of Abuja Harmony and Project Director RY2024-25, Oro-ghene Adia, said the initiative builds on previous interventions that trained 400 schoolgirls, adding that the current phase focuses on women to enhance knowledge abd skill transfer within families and communities.

He disclosed that 150 women were targeted for the training and stressed that empowering mothers would have a ripple effect on society, adding that the project promotes sustainability through the provision of sewing machines.

Adia further revealed plans to expand the programme to include awareness on menopause and its management in future, noting the need to address gaps in information and support for women.

The immediate past Commissioner of Police FCT now AIG, Dantawaye Miller, assured that cases involving abuse or exploitation of girls are treated with seriousness and referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper investigation.

He described the training as enlightening and encouraged participants to share the knowledge with others.

Similarly, the chairperson of POWA in the FCT, Dr. Bessie Dantawaye, described the initiative as timely, noting that many women cannot afford sanitary products and sometimes resort to unsafe alternatives.

She assured that participants would cascade the knowledge through step-down trainings and added that awareness on pre-menopause and menopause would be incorporated into future programmes.

Also speaking, the District Governor 9127, Rtn. Dame Princess Joy Nky Okoro, said the initiative would be expanded across Rotary clubs to reach more communities, emphasising that menstrual hygiene is a natural aspect of women’s health that must not be ignored.

Okoro added that the programme aligns with Rotary International’s focus areas, including water, sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child health, and environmental sustainability, reaffirming Rotary’s commitment to sustaining the initiative.