…Distributes PADS to 350 Girls
…Demands FG Distribute Pads to Schools
As part of Activities to celebrate Nigerian Children with focus on the Girl-Child, to mark the 2022 Children’s Day Weekenders magazine in Collaboration with Standup for Women Society, SWS FCT Chapter, Pad Up Africa and Child Education & Crime Eradication Foundation has held a one Sensitization program on proper use of Sanitary Pads in Abuja. Powered by the Office of the Chief of Defense Staff Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking at the event the Executive Director Weekenders Magazine Princess Joy Idam, who is also the Secretary SWS FCT, and Human Resources & Media National Director CECEF, said we decided to sensitize the Girls on the Proper use of the Sanitary Pads as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility and also gave out over 500 Pads and writing materials to 350 children who took part.
The project with theme: Securing Our Future Today, SOFT Project is aimed at ensuring that no fewer than 5million girls get the Sanitary Pads for free from the group. We would continue to gather Pads and give out to girls in schools in different communities in the FCT.
We therefore call on government, to ensure that girls are given sanitary Pads in schools free. It should be a policy that must be followed as one pack of Pad would not be enough for the girls if proper pad use of 4-5 a day is to be followed Ms Idam declared.
Explaining that while some girls flow is low others dot and some have heavy flow and so we request that if we are to secure the future of the Girl Child, then government must step in and make available sanitary pads in schools for the girls to use. Arguing that if men who can afford condoms get it free then girls should get Pads free at school.
In his good will message Lemmy Ughegbe the Executive Director Make A Difference Initiative, added his voice to the call for gender balance in policies such as this explaining that even when government share condoms women are excluded. He demanded inclusion policy that would ensure distribution of free Pads to Schools for the Girl Child. He commended the group for such an initiative and got the children to dance to Whitney Houston song “Love is the greatest”.
Earlier Princess Idam, had explained that the cost of Pads is why some girls resorted to use old wrappers, towel, tissue paper which is a no no and all manners of stuff that if continuously exposed to can damage their reproductive system. And in future they may not give birth.
Liberator Tina Ihejietoh, the Welfare Officer of SWS FCT who represented the Chairperson, Haj Fatima Ibrahim-Iyal, thanked Weekenders Magazine for the continuos support and collaboration with SWS and prayed for this partnership to last for SWS to achieve her areas of core mandate. She commended the various schools who responded to the program and hoped that next year would be bigger and better.
The Secretary NUJ Abuja Council, Comrade Ochiaka Ugwu, appreciated Ms Idam for the Initiative and prayed the exercise would continue monthly. He also commended the Schools that participated in the program and assured that we would continue to partner with your schools to put a smile on the faces of girls and also get those in authority to do the needful through advocacy.
Weekenders Magazine calls on friends, manufacturers of Pads, government, elected officials and Captains of industries to partner with the coalition to ensure more girls and schools get the Sanitary Pads.