UNICEF trains 488 girls and teachers to promote menstrual hygiene in N’East
Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that good menstrual management requires access to appropriate information, materials, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in communities.
According to the Fund, poor menstrual hygiene can pose physical health risks and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections among girls and women.
UNICEF’s WASH manager, Mamita Thakkar, raised the alarm yesterday (Thursday) in Maiduguri, Borno State, to mark this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD).
She said that many girls and women in the Northeast have limited options for affordable menstrual materials, like sanitary kits and pads.
Besides, Thakkar added that having access to private facilities with water and safer, low-cost menstrual materials could reduce urogenital diseases.
She noted that girls and women with disabilities and special needs, however, face additional challenges with menstrual hygiene.
“They are affected disproportionately by the lack of access to toilets with water and materials to manage their period.
Continuing, she said, “The girls and women also do not have access to materials to manage their menstruation,” particularly during emergencies, natural disasters, and conflicts.
In helping them manage their menstruation, UNICEF is supporting the building of the knowledge and skills of girls and women.
Besides the acquisition of skills on menstrual management, the WASH manager further disclosed that 488 girls and teachers were trained on menstrual hygiene and management in 93 schools in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
In complement to the training, 78, 000 sanitary kits were distributed last year, while 16, 000 kits will be distributed to schools in 2024.
On how the stigma of menstruation can be broken, Thakkar said: “Studies show stigma related to menstruation remains widespread,” adding that adolescents often feel ashamed or unable to openly discuss the topic in homes and schools.
She warned that the shame can affect their mental health as well as their school attendance and completion.
