Statistics show thtat at least 500 million women and girls globally lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management; inadequate water to wash, unavailability of means to dispose used sanitary pads in schools and other places can pose a major obstacle to women and girls leading to absenteeism from school during their period. At K&TRC, we work to make sanitary pads accessible to girls- especially those in marginalized communities- and empower them with knowledge on menstrual hygiene to make them self reliant.
As an organization, Menstrual Hygiene Day is an opportunity to join our voice with the global community to call attention to the plight of girls because Menstrual Hygiene Day is a global and annual awareness day that comes up May 28 to break the taboos surrounding menstruation, raise awareness of the importance of good menstrual hygiene management for women and adolescent girls worldwide to reach their full potential.
To commemorate the #MHD, on 28th May, 2018 Kids & Teens Resource Centre visited St Louis Grammar to conduct a sensitization on Sanitation and Menstrual Hygiene for Adolescent Girls.
The first session was facilitated by K&TRC’s program officer, Oluwakemi Falana who extensively discussed Sanitation and simplified it as regular activities of a young lady aimed at maintaining good health and wellness; personal sanitation and hygiene practices help prevent odour from body parts and maintain the self-esteem of girls.
She went further by saying every student should care about #MHM because it can enhance socio-economic empowerment and growth. Menstruation really matters to women and girls in other to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Hence, the girls were were empowered with knowledge to be able to manage their menstruation hygienically, safely in privacy and with dignity.
She rounded up the session with some few tips on menstrual hygiene that every girl and woman should know:
1. Choose your method of sanitation:
2. Change regularly
3. Wash yourself regularly
4. Don’t use soaps or vaginal hygiene products
5. Use the right washing technique
6. Discard your used sanitary product properly
7. Beware of a pad rash
8. Use only one method of sanitation at a time
9. Have a bath regularly
10. Be ready with on-the-go stuff during your periods.
A lot of questions were asked by the girls and addressed after which free sanitary pads were distributed to the girls.