Students of Junior Secondary School Dutse Sagwari, Abuja, with the menstrual pack given by Glo Foundation in the Federal Capital Territory as part of the events marking this year’s edition of the International Day of the Girl Child.
Glo Foundation, the social investment arm of Globacom, has urged girls across the country to place more premium on their menstrual health in order to grow into confident adults and also face the future without being bogged down by challenges.
The Foundation made this the focus of its engagement on the observance of this year’s edition of the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) with the theme: “The GIRL I am, the changes I lead: GIRLS on the frontline of crisis”. The Foundation organised an enlightenment gathering with girls in select schools across the country on Wednesday and also gave them useful menstrual gifts for their use.
The Glo Foundation’s health awareness initiative for the girls, working with the non-governmental organisation Health Aid for All Initiative (HAFAI), aimed to teach menstrual hygiene to 100 girls in a chosen number of schools in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin, Owerri, and Kaduna.
The Foundation disclosed in a statement that “Menstrual periods should never be a reason for a girl to lose confidence, miss school, or feel held back. That’s why we put this initiative together where we also provided menstrual care kits to the young girls in these selected states, to ensure that they have not just what they need, but also the reassurance that their growth and dignity matter”.
The selected schools included Community Secondary School, Port Harcourt; Methodist Government Junior High School, Agege, Lagos; LGEA Upper Basic School Kudansa, Maraban Rido, Kaduna; Oba Ewuare Grammar School, Oko Central, Benin City; Orogwe Secondary School, Owerri; and Junior Secondary School Dutse Sagwari, Abuja.
In Lagos, Dr Ugorchi Ohajuruka, a medical doctor and public health specialist and Mrs Lara Rowland took the students of Methodist Government Junior High School, Agege, through basic tips on menstrual health management and hygiene, gender based violence and mental health. They also took time to answer questions from the young girls.
Reacting, the Principal of the school, Mr Olawale Adebakin, harped on the importance of the focus on the health and well-being of the girl child. Said he: “There is a need to take care of the girl child. We need to protect them so they will be useful for the development of the country”.
Similar experiences were shared in the various locations selected by Glo Foundation for the observance in Abuja, Kaduna, Benin, Owerri, and Port Harcourt.
