The Smile Outreach in collaboration with Fab Treasures Foundation has taken menstrual hygiene awareness to girls in Wassa Internationally Displaced Person camp and Apo Malaysia IDP camp both in Abuja.
The programs and Partnerships Manager, of The Smile Outreach Ayomiposi Ogundipe, speaking at the launch of a pad station to commemorate 2024 Menstrual Hygiene Day in Abuja said the aim is to enable girls to have access to menstrual pads.
“We are here to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, a part of our project is advocating for menstrual justice, we know how rigorous it is this day for girls and women who don’t have access to menstrual products and that is why we came up with the project called the ‘Good Circle’ in collaboration with other NGOs to launch pad station so that girls can have continuous access to menstrual product and have menstrual education.
“We are launching this pad station with the aim to stop absenteeism in school and practice sexual grooming.
She stressed that the project is going to be sustainable with monthly communication with the girls.
“We are also looking forward to teaching the girls how to make reusable pads. We are engaging them to be more entrepreneurial while providing solutions to their menstrual issues”
The Executive Director. Fab Treasures Foundation, and Festus Abigail harp on their commitment to issues of women and girls.
“Fab Treasure Foundation as an NGO is committed to ensuring that women and girls are well-guided, educated and empowered.
“We work towards achieving this by focusing on two major areas, one is menstrual hygiene where we teach young girls about menstruation and how to manage their body and we also ensure that they have access to their basic supply which is sanitary pads. That is why we are here to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day”.
Sadiya Muhammed, a beneficiary says she feels great to receive a pad gift from Smile Outreach.
“The first time I got a pad gift was from an NGO. Aside from pads that I receive as gifts, I use pieces of clothes during menstruation but that is tedious as I will have to wash the pieces, allow them to dry then reuse them. I am grateful to the organizers and I urge them to continue this initiative that cares for poor young girls”.
Another beneficiary, Aisha Muhammed said the organisers should extend the kind gesture to other IDPs.
” I am happy that we have a pad station where we can have answers to menstrual concerns. I also encouraged the organizers to extend this kind gesture to other girls who cannot afford to buy pads”.