As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate International Menstrual Hygiene Day, Wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, has called on stakeholders to intensify efforts towards making menstrual hygiene products more accessible and affordable for girls and women.
In a message to commemorate the day, the Kogi First Lady noted that the need for sanitary products is critical for girls and women in rural communities who face limited access to sanitary products.
Hajia Sefinat expressed concern over the poor state of menstrual health across the country despite ongoing interventions aimed at improving accessibility.
She attributed the challenge to lack of economic power, limited availability, and prevailing social order that make it difficult for girls and women to achieve menstrual hygiene.
Reiterating the importance of menstrual hygiene products, the First Lady stressed that lack of access continues to have far-reaching consequences, particularly among young girls.
“We are aware of the stereotypes, stigma, and loss of self-esteem associated with poor menstrual hygiene in our communities. When these items are unavailable to our girls, it keeps them out of school and negatively affects their social and emotional wellbeing. We cannot afford to allow this to continue,” she said.
Mrs Ododo commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for the distribution of 10,000 sanitary pads to schoolgirls in Kogi State through the “Flow With Confidence” project of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
According to her, the intervention has significantly eased the financial burden on beneficiaries for up to one year.
She urged young girls to remain focused on their education while calling for sustained investment in the education of women and girls as a vital tool for economic empowerment and social emancipation.
International Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed globally to promote awareness and encourage policy dialogue on the integration of menstrual hygiene management into national and local policies and programmes.
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