Hundreds of teenage girls and young women in Apomu Kingdom, Osun State, benefited from a menstrual hygiene outreach on Tuesday as Dr. Sekinat Bola-Oyebamiji, wife of an APC governorship aspirant and President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Osun State chapter, donated 2,000 sanitary pads to students.
The outreach, held at Alapomu Hall, Apomu, brought together girls from public and private secondary schools across the town. Beyond the distribution of sanitary pads, participants received practical health education on menstrual hygiene, puberty, and proper use and disposal of sanitary products.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Oyebamiji stressed the importance of menstrual health awareness among adolescent girls.
“The issue of menstrual hygiene is a key health issue which every girl confronts growing up. The challenge could be more overwhelming if and where resources to handle this natural event in human life are lacking or barely exising,” she said.
She added that empowering girls with the right knowledge was essential to their growth and development.
“we owe the girls the duty to give them appropriate knowledge and orientation that would help them function as individuals and group in the society. It would also help situations where girls are absent from school as a result of confusion and stigma of menstruation.”
Health professionals at the event engaged the students in interactive sessions on menstrual hygiene, nutrition during menstruation, and signs that require medical attention. Teachers described the atmosphere as open and encouraging, allowing many of the girls to ask questions freely.
Olori Janet Afolabi, CNN award-winning journalist and Queen of Apomu Kingdom, who coordinated the programme, described period poverty as a major factor affecting girls’ education in rural communities.
“period poverty” is one of the causes of absenteeism for girls in in rural areas,” she said.
She noted that the donated sanitary pads would provide relief for many beneficiaries while the knowledge gained would have a lasting impact.
“The 2,000 pads will months for many of the girls. Bur the education part is what will stay with the students for life. Menstrual education is an investment in leadership.”
School administrators at the event also commended the initiative, noting that access to sanitary products and menstrual education would help reduce school absenteeism among girls.
The outreach forms part of ongoing efforts by individuals, organisations, and government stakeholders to combat period poverty, promote menstrual health, and keep more girls in school across Nigeria.
Among those present were the wife of the APC deputy governorship aspirant and the Osun State APC Woman Leader.
