NGO empowers female students in A’Ibom with sanitary pads

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, distributed sanitary pads to over 80 female students in Akwa Ibom State commemorating World Menstrual Day.

AHF distributed the items to the Ibesikpo Secondary Commercial School (IBESCO) students in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.

In his remarks during the distribution, the State Clinical Coordinator of AHF, Dr Ekemini Essien said that the move became necessary to help the students maintain good hygiene and reduce their monthly cost of purchasing pads.

“Today is always set aside by the United Nations, to commemorate World Menstrual Day. As an organisation, we are here in Ibesikpo Secondary Commercial School to train female students on personal hygiene, specifically how they can care for themselves during their menstrual period.

“We are equally giving out sanitary pads to over 80 students, from Junior Secondary I to Senior Secondary III to help reduce their expenses. It will last them for two months.

“We are working in partnership with the community advocacy group which is within our organisation to help address issues within the community like inequalities, gender-based violence, and among others,” Essien said.

He said each year the foundation sets out activities targeting secondary schools and some disadvantaged communities to help address issues bothering girl-child.

Essien, who is also the State Team Lead of AHF noted that the foundation has been on the forefront of training, particularly female gender on the prevention of HIV&AID including testing.

On her part, the Vice Principal, Administration of IBESCO, Mrs Rose Edenteghe commended the foundation and described their gesture as rewarding and highly beneficial to the students, particularly in the current economic reality.

She urged the female students to be focused on their studies and shun any forms of negative behaviours which may truncated their education and drag them backwards.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the Female Senior Prefect of IBESCO, Miss Patricia Edet, thanked the foundation for coming to the school.

Edet said that they have learnt how to observe personal hygiene and more during their menstrual period.