By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
For its promotion of menstrual hygiene among school girls and intervention in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), parents, teachers and students in Adamawa State have applauded United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria for the impact of the intervention in some schools.
The commendation came from the teachers and school children on the heels of a recent field visit by a team of UNICEF Officials and Journalists from the Bauchi Field Office to asses the impact of some of UNICEF’s intervention in the areas of school girls’ menstrual hygiene and WASH within Schools’ environment in Jada and Guyuk local government areas of the State.
The visit also afforded the officials and journalists to have a first hand assessment of the impact of a training conducted by UNICEF to curb the incidences of stigmatization, non attendance of school, non adherance to hygiene during menstrual periods and other harmful practices.
The training for the stakeholders was funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation Accelerated Sanitation and Water for All programme ll (DGIS-ASWA II) in conjunction with UNICEF.
The training targeted teachers, male and female school children whom were trained on the need to adhere to best practices, especially on personal hygiene of female school children relating to menstruation during school hours and even at home in the state.
One of the outcomes of the training was an attitudinal change on the negative perception of menstrual hygiene that was hitherto, shrouded in secrecy, which many people believed should not be discussed openly.
Reacting on the outcome of the training, the one of the trainees said , “ with the UNICEF intervention, stakeholders are now on the same page and discussing the issue freely without any fear of being branded by the society as shameless “.
With to knowledge acquired on making of reusable sanitary pads, another trainee said that, “Now, young girls are making money as a result of the training they received in the art of making reusable menstrual pads locally which is cheaper and can be reused for up to six months.”
During a one day field visit to Tsohon Tikke Primary school, one of the schools which benefitted from the training by UNICEF, stakeholders narrated to the visiting team of reporters, how the intervention had changed their world views about menstruation completely.
Musa Umar, Head Teacher of the School, noted that the contributions of the partners, especially UNICEF had actually changed male perception about menstrual hygiene.
can never be over emphasised explaining that He explained further that , “what used to be in the dark has been brought to light courtesy of the training as issues surrounding menstruation are freely tabled in the open”.
According to him, “In a conservative society such as ours, talking of menstrual hygiene is seen as moral bankruptcy. In fact, when the issue was first muted to me I was gripped with fear because I could not see myself, a Fulani man discussing such issue with my students.”
“But as it is now, the training has led to a cordial relationship between parents, teachers and the students and, whenever any friction arises as a result of misconception, we usually address that amicably in a family way.”
He noted that most of the concerns around menstruation especially arising from new starters have been nipped in the bud because of the massive awareness as both students, teachers and parents have built mutual trust on the subject.
The Head Teacher commended UNICEF for equipping the school with a borehole, and modern toilet facilities for boys and girls, noting that the development has improved learning atmosphere in the school.
While thanking UNICEF, WASH Coordinator of Jada local government, Obadia David said that no fewer than 60 children from the age of 13 to 17 across 20 schools in the area have been impacted just as he urged other well meaning individuals and organizations to complement the good gesture.
In her view as a beneficiary and student, Aisha Sulaiman advanced that, the knowledge impacted on them will go a long way in changing the narrative.
Aisha Sulaiman also noted that making of the local pads have addressed the challenges of skipping classes due to menstrual flow as well as financial pressure of having to buy the manufactured pads which goes at an exorbitant price.
Featured image credit: Nigeria Health Watch