In commemoration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Edo State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Brave Heart Initiative and other local partners, has distributed sanitary materials to students in the State. The Ministry visited St Maria Gorretti Secondary School and Anglican Girls College in Benin City on May 31, 2023, to distribute sanitary materials to the students.
While anchoring the event at St. Maria Gorretti Secondary School, the Ministry’s Adolescent Youth Health and Development officer, Mrs Aigbe Endurance, highlighted the importance of good menstrual hygiene and sanitation. She shared that poor menstrual hygiene practices can lead to reproductive and urinary tract infections. She emphasized the need for good menstrual hygiene to promote dignity, privacy, bodily integrity, and confidence in young girls.
Similarly, the Reproductive Health Coordinator of the Ministry, Abieyuwa Adja, engaged students of Anglican Girls Grammar School. She noted that in line with this year’s theme tagged “Making Menstruation a Normal Fact by 2023”, efforts government is making efforts to break down stigmas associated with menstrual experiences. Other relevant stakeholders are also joining the effort by creating more awareness and education. Additionally, they are providing access to resources for all girls in Edo State.
According to her, the initiatives, in the long run, would help improve menstrual health and hygiene, promote gender equality, and empower women and girls to reach their full potential.
The elated students appreciated the State Government and the donor partners for the initiative, promising to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice. The Government distributed Sanitary materials in other senatorial districts of the State, including Ujuelen Secondary School, Ekpoma in Edo Central and Ogbonna Secondary School in Edo North.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day is marked annually on May 28th to raise awareness of the issue’s management and break taboos around menstruation globally. The collaboration between the Edo State Ministry of Health, WHO and various local partners aims to break down menstrual hygiene barriers and ensure all women and young girls have access to proper sanitary materials.
