Health
MS Umma Bala, a student in Bauchi State on Wednesday appealed to Bauchi State government and other stakeholders to provide free sanitary pads for adolescent girls.
She made the appeal on behalf of her peers at a one-day dialogue session on issues surrounding the girl child organised by Plan International Nigeria, an NGO.
She said the appeal became necessary to enable adolescent girls to realise their potentials in the pursuit of quality education.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the activity was to commemorate the 2022 International Day of the Girl Child.
The theme of the dialogue is: “Equal power in leadership, decision-making and political participation for girls.’’
Umma noted that girls lacked adequate knowledge about self-care during menstrual cycles.
“Most girls do not have access to sanitary pads because of economic challenges.
“Most girls lack the knowledge about menstrual flow and reproductive health because their parents also lacked the awareness,’’ she said.
She also appealed for the adoption of reproductive health education in schools curriculum in Bauchi State.
Umma attributed gender inequality to challenges bedevilling girls in areas of digital skills.
In his remarks, Mr Nasiru Musa, Senior Programme Coordinator, Plan International Nigeria, said the NGO strategically planned to engage 10 million Nigerian girls in a programme entitled: Strive, Decide, Lead and Learn’’ to be executed within five years starting from 2022.
Earlier, Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, expressed appreciation of the various interventions by stakeholders in various sectors of development.
Mohammed, who was represented by Mrs Zuwaira Baba an official of the state’s Ministry of Health, said the state had introduced health interventions for adolescents and youths as well as integrated services in health facilities.
Representative of the UNFPA at the session, Ms Deborah Tabara, said boys should not be left out in discussions surrounding menstrual education. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: Mr Nasiru Musa Mrs Zuwaira Baba Ms Deborah Tabara Ms Umma Bala UNFPA
