The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with Lagos State, has urged Nigerian girls to view their menstruation as a proud womanhood milestone that emphasises their critical role in ensuring human sustainability.
Aderonke Akinwole, Social and Behavioural Change Specialist,
UNICEF, gave the counsel at an event organised in collaboration with Nigerian
Girls' Guild and Lagos State Primary Health Care Board in commemoration of the
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHDay).
The programme with the theme, 'Together for a Period
Friendly World,' brought together students from both public and private schools
to celebrate menstruation as a significant milestone in a girl's journey to
womanhood.
Akinwole said, “In fact, when a girl starts menstruation, it
should call for celebration because the period shows that she has progressed to
a woman who can bring forth children to continue to make the world sustainable.
“So, they need to be proud of themselves, get the required
and correct information that can help them stay safe, clean, and healthy during
that period.
“They should not be shy. It is part of them being women,
also part of the dignity of a woman, and they should carry that dignity with
pride,” she added.
She urged the state government to do more on the
sensitisation of menstrual hygiene, added that the awareness should be part of
the curriculum in schools, while in religious settings and communities too.
The UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Specialist warned
against any form of stigmatisation, particularly from males, adding, "We
must teach our boys to know that it's part of the life of a girl and they must
take cognisance and respect them.
According to him, girls should have the knowledge of the menstruation cycle even before they start; it should be part of the health
education in schools, in churches, in mosques, and in communities generally.
“The idea is for girls to have the awareness about the
importance of good menstrual hygiene management, have a knowledge of what it
means, and how they can prepare themselves adequately for it.
Commenting, Mrs. Honfor Adesola, Director of Education,
Lagos State Primary Education Board, commended UNICEF for supporting the
campaign of menstrual hygiene in the state and other girls-related issues.
Adesola noted that the event created an enabling environment to
further remind the girls of the need to get the Human Papillomavirus Vaccines
(HPV) available and free in health facilities across the state.
According to her, we are here to commemorate the MH Day and
also leverage our need to engage girls on the HPV, which the state government
has provided; we have a responsibility to keep sensitising them about
HPV.
“So that when they get back home, they will also discuss
with their parents, because we need their parents' consent for them to get
vaccinated, which is to protect them from cervical cancer.
“It is accessible, safe, and effective in our health care
facilities, for girls from age nine to 14 years, so they can go there, with the
consent of their parents, to get the vaccine; a number of them have not been
vaccinated,” she added.
According to her, they can carry out more campaigns, hold
rallies where they distribute free sanitary and menstrual-related products to
encourage protection and prevention, just like UNICEF did for us today.
Similarly, Miss Emmanuella Azubuike, a student of New Estate
Baptist Secondary School, Surulere, who thanked UNICEF and other partners, said
the event has broadened her knowledge on menstrual hygiene and the importance of
taking HPV.
Azubuike said, “This sensitisation programme is very
impactful and I think more NGOs and establishments should support this
enlightenment campaign so that more young girls can be aware and have the
knowledge on the two key subjects.
