Rotary Club of Umudike Central, District 9142, Nigeria, in collaboration with North Cobb Rotary Club, District 6900, USA has distributed reusable sanitary pads to over 400 female secondary school students in Abia State.
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that this was the third edition of their collaboration for the annual event of the international club termed “Rotary Year of Service after 2022-23 and 2023-24 in the state.”
The events were held at Community Secondary School, Ihim Ibere; Methodist High School, Oboro and Michael Okpara University Demonstration Secondary School, Umudike in Ikwuano local government area.
Others were at Ndume-Otuka Community Secondary School, Ndume; Ohuhu Community Secondary School, Amaogwugwu and Umuopara Secondary School, Umuopara in Umuahia North local government.
The president of the Central District, Rotarian Seline Ilochi, at the events said the programme, themed “Pad a Girl” was aimed at sensitising the students on the importance of menstrual hygiene and support to the girl-child.
“The pad does not only ensure safe menstrual hygiene practice but it is also environmentally friendly, which significantly reduces wastes associated with disposable pads,” she stated.
Addressing the students, the public image maker, Rotarian Onyinye Ralph-Nwachukwu, said the project would also help the students to know how to take care of themselves and maintain good menstrual hygiene.
The past assistant governor of the district advised the students to always wash the pads gently with water after six hours of use and sun-dry it before re-use to avoid contracting bacterial infections.
Ralph-Nwachukwu, who espoused the various works of “Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors” encouraged them to join the Interact Club to serve their community and humanity with their time and talents.
Past assistant governors, Njoku Uche and Obuora Okoye; assistant governor, Vince Asor and the governor, Chinonyerem Obinwa took the students on practical steps on how to use the pads.
At the events, both the students and the teachers expressed appreciation to the districts and the members for their kind gesture, assuring that the pads would be properly used as directed.
