Aliyu musdafa college girls holding their pads after distribution
A Non-Governmental Organisation called Hope for Her, at the weekend distributed 2,500 menstrual pads to secondary school girls in Yola-South and Fufore local governments areas in Adamawa state.
In an exclusive interview with NATIONAL ACCORD Newspaper at the Lamido of Adamawa palace, the founder Dr. Asmau Ribadu, said that she set up the foundation to battle the menace of out of school girls due to the challenges they face during their menstruation periods.
She said that the foundation’s objectives is empowering girls ,women and transforming their lives for development of the society and the nation at large.
” Most girls that cannot afford to buy menstrual pads stop going to school, because their uniforms can be stain and to avoid such challenges, they stop going to school”, she said.
She added,”Poor menstrual health management negatively impacts girls education by causing absenteeism, poor concentration, and reduced participation in class due to pain, shame, and inadequate sanitation facilities.”
Ribadu pointed out that lack of access to menstrual products and menstrual health education can lead to lower school attendance and academic performance, impacting long-term educational attainment.
“Fear of stigma, embarrassment, or a lack of understanding from peers and teachers can make girls feel self-conscious and withdraw from classroom activities”.
She added that the fear of leaks or being discovered during menstruation can lead to anxiety and distress, making girls less willing to engage in sports or group activities.
Ribadu disclosed that the menstrual pads distributed are reusable and that they can last with the beneficiaries between six to two years if properly maintained,
In her speech, the guest speaker, Hajiya Fatima Abubakar , commended the founder of the foundation (Ribadu) for improving the education of girl child, which ,she described as a foundation for developing the society.
She urged the foundation to organised training for the school girls and women on other hygiene issues affecting girls and women in their homes.
The Adamawa State Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Barr. Jamila Babuba, described the foundation as the hope of womanhood in Nigeria.
She called on private organisations and individuals to contribute financially to expand the social services of the foundation to reach out to the 36 states in the country.
