…donates 500 Sanitary pads to vulnerable girls in the school
The outreach PadAGirl initiative was developed in the spirit of the International Day of the Girl Child to localize Goal 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on good health and well-being. It aims to support menstrual hygiene amongst poor and vulnerable girls in schools and the larger Somolu community.
The initiative which was well received in the spirit of celebrating the Girl Child by the happy management staff and super excited students of Igbobi Junior High School started with the introduction of the mission by the Convener of Orekoya Youth Vanguard Mr. Abdulfatai Ajibola Are highlighting the roles the Vanguard plays in the community engagement of Engr. Abiodun Orekoya for youths and students, and how uniquely important the ‘girl child’ is to any society they found themselves.
Mrs Adebisi Adesanya-Ajayi, the scribe of the Youths Vanguard and a top-level manager at the Lagos State Health Service Commission enlightened the young girls on menstrual hygiene the pros and cons, and how it ills can reduce fertility and ways to hygienically dispose of used sanitary pads.
“For most poor and vulnerable girls in our community, as signs of menstruation get close, it serves as a constant reminder of the oncoming abuse and stigmatization they are about to face. What should be a proud period in their lives, turns out to be their most dreadful period. For most of these girls, menstruation is a dream-killer because they never get to attend school during menstruation. While others who cannot afford a good menstrual pad, rely on old rags and leaves as alternatives”.
“There is no gainsaying the detrimental health challenges faced by these poor girls and women as a result of these unhygienic practices. Some are sexually abused in their quest to look for money to buy menstrual pads”.
To arrest this ugly incidence the Orekoya Youths Vanguard distributes 500 sanitary pads to the girls in their numbers after an impactful session of equipping them with relevant knowledge and hygienic practices that the girls show zeal to inculcate in ensuring a safe and hygienic menstrual clean up.
The Management of Igbobi Junior High School expresses gratitude to the Orekoya Youth Vanguard for their valuable efforts in reaching out and educating girls about personal hygiene.
Additionally, they encourage the leadership of the Youth Vanguard to expand their initiatives beyond this and focus on youth development and community orientation.
