TheCable

The Aisha Wakaso Foundation, a non-profit organisation, has trained girls with hearing impairment on menstrual hygiene in Niger state.

The foundation also donated menstrual hygiene kits to girls, including those with disabilities and albinism.

Speaking with journalists after the training on Wednesday, Aisha Wakaso, founder of the organisation, expressed concerns over the increase in the price of sanitary pads.

Wakasao, who is also the special adviser on print media to the governor of Niger, added that many poor and vulnerable girls are unable to afford sanitary pads due to the high cost.

She said pads should be made affordable and available for girls same way condoms are freely given to boys in many parts of the world.

“I realised that the cost of sanitary pads increased and there are people out there who have not been able to feed as families not to talk of providing sanitary towels for their children,” she said.

“We see that condoms are being given out for free if you go to some public places and nobody is giving pads for free to these children.

“I started giving out pads last year because that was when the cost of everything skyrocketed.

“I just think that we are not doing enough. The government and people who have these things know what to do because for somebody like me, how much do I even have?

“We are calling on them to support schools, and children with sanitary pads in order to make an impact.”

Also speaking, Mary Noel-Berje, special adviser on women and affirmative action to the governor, said the government will ensure sanitary pads are included as part of its programmes in the state.

“As from now on, pads by the grace of God, would be included as part of our programmes. Girls will no longer go around sleeping with boys because they need N200 or N400 to buy sanitary pads.

“I don’t know how we got to this stage in the first place. We keep talking about this with ministers, and governors’ wives and nobody is even getting to the root of this matter to proffer a solution.

“As it is now, I think I have seen it and honestly I am so bitter and I think there is a need to really sit at the round table to talk about it.

“If the federal government is not going to take it up as a challenge, I think this state will really have to come up with a policy or a support system that will go a long way in dealing with this issue.

“We can’t at this time be leaving the girl to themselves. It is not their intention. This is a common need for every growing child.”