NAWOJ Advocates Inclusion Of Menstrual Hygiene In School Curriculum

Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ebonyi State chapter, Miss Ruth Oginyi, has advocated the inclusion of menstrual hygiene education in the nation’s school curriculum.
Oginyi made the call yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki.
She said integration of menstrual hygiene in school curriculum would enable the girl-child have information on menstrual flow and hygienic measures to take, to avoid contracting disease during menstrual cycle.
Oginyi noted that NAWOJ in conjunction with other civil society organisations had visited selected schools in Abakaliki recently to teach the adolescent female students the importance of menstrual hygiene.
She said that ignorance regarding the effective management of menstrual cycle on the part of the girl-child had led many to adopt unwholesome practices during their monthly menstrual flow.
Oginyi said that the problem could be effectively addressed when menstrual hygiene education was taught in schools as part of sex education.
“Menstrual hygiene education will lead the girls out of ignorance regarding the management of their menstrual flow.
“It will help them develop effective skills to handle this very important aspect of their sexual and reproductive lives,” she said.
Oginyi said poverty could also make the girl-child use unhygienic materials, including toilet paper, cloths and rags to control their menstrual flow, which could lead to serious infections and diseases.
The chairperson explained that NAWOJ in Ebonyi would soon unveil its full programme against gender-based violence and other challenges affecting women and the girl-child.
“We decided to join in this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated every May 28, because of the fact that menstrual hygiene is not officially included in the school curriculum.
“It is very important that government invests in menstrual hygiene because it will have a multiplier effect on girl-child education and health.
“Some of our girls, because they do not have the money to buy sanitary pads, can be lured by men in a bid to get money for the pad during their monthly flow,” she said.
The NAWOJ chairperson called for more partners in the fight for the rights, and wellbeing of women and the girl-child.
Oginyi noted that the theme for the 2021 celebration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, “Need to Step Up Action and Investment in Menstrual Health Now” was apt.