By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A non-governmental organization, Queen Lizzy Shades and More, on Friday, donated over 200 sanitary pads to girls of the Army Day Secondary School, FCT-Abuja.
The CEO of the Queen Lizzy Shades and More, Queen Elizabeth Agbor, while addressing newsmen during a “Pad a Girl Campaign” at the school, called on other non-governmental organizations to also help in empowering most of these students.
She said, “We came to Army Day barracks to empower the female students to enlighten them on how to take care of themselves on personal hygiene before, during and after their period and also several awareness on cervical cancer and blockage of the tube.
“So we are here to give them the basic knowledge that they need to know, how to take care of themselves during their period, in order for them not to get infected. And after that we empower them by giving them sanitary pads to take care of themselves.
“I’m appealing to the federal government and other NGOs as well to come out and give a helping hand in empowering most of these students. During the course of this program, a child told me that she comes to school on her period without pad.
“She said anytime she goes to meet her aunty, she would tell her to use her pant or leather, that the aunty doesn’t give her any pads to use. So I’m appealing to the federal government, if they can be giving out pads to students while on their menstrual period, it will go a long way.
“I’m also suggesting that if sanitary pads can be made free for students, not for all females but for students from 13-16 years that cannot afford pad, it will be a good initiative.”
Fielding questions from journalists, a Public Health Practitioner in the Health Strategy and Health Foundation, Kayode Alabi, said there was nothing wrong in taking drugs to help with pain during menstrual cycle but should be taken with prescription.
According to him, “A lot of propaganda is out there on taking pills before, during and after menstruation. Science has proven that there’s nothing bad in taking pills, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, talking about ibuprofen and paracetamol. It can be taken before the menstruation, there’s nothing bad in that because it helps to relieve pain.
“It won’t affect the fertility of the girl, it’s just to help suppress the pain that the person will be passing through during the menstruation.”
Also speaking, an Estate Surveyor, Ogar Okoli, lauded the organisation over their initiative to conduct an awareness for the students and gifting of sanitary pads.
On her part, CEO Vervirds Palmoil, Edidiong Iorver, said it was a dream come true for Queen Lizzy and called on all girls to be hygienic when going through their menstrual cycle.
She said, “This is a dream come true for Queen Lizzy, she has had this project in mind right from when she has been a teenager and we are glad to be here to show our support. Generally, girls should take their hygiene seriously when seeing their period.
“We know things are not easy for some people and some families that don’t have the means to educate their girl-child on the need to take care of themselves during menstruation. At least with the little effort we have done today, the girls here will be very hygienic when it comes to their menstrual cycle.”
Giving her appreciation, a Student in the senior secondary section of the school, Samuel Blessing, said “It’s nice for them to reach out to us because most people do not have this awareness but hopefully with them being here today, I’m sure most people would have learnt one or two things from it.”