Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
-Targets 5000 girls for pad, handbooks
The Adunni Save A Girl Foundation, a non – governmental body focusing on girl – child development has commenced this year’s campaign for menstrual hygiene with a target of getting across to 5000 girls with sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene handbooks.
The campaign aimed at ensuring that girls keep their body clean during menstruation to avoid infections and overall health kicked – off at Zumratul Islamiyyah Grammar School, Igbogbo, on Wednesday, May 28.
This year’s campaign is themed: “Support Her Cycle: Menstrual Hygiene Education”.
While stating that her foundation is changing the narratives in its annual event from the usual distribution of pad to more enlightened and engaging one, the founder/convener, Adunni Save A Girl Foundation, Senator Comfort Olafare Oladunni, also added that her foundation would be going round the divisions in Lagos State especially the rural areas to engage girls on the cause.
“Today, we are kick starting the support and menstrual hygiene campaign, which is all about menstrual hygiene. Through this, we are trying to educate the girls, helping them to get a pad as we always do, but this time around, it is not just about giving out pad, it is also by educating them about the pad; on what to do and what not to do, and how to do it, what to use and what not to use.
“We are giving out guide. The guide is more than a handbook, which we are giving out to about 700 girls in this school today. We are giving them these educational materials to serve as a guide for menstrual hygiene so that they can be aware of what is expected of them, and through this, they can avoid having virginal cancer, and other infections.”
Sen Comfort Olafare Oladunnu elaborated, “These are issues that are not being talked about often. The truth is that a lot of people cannot afford pad and we trying to see how we can be of help to them.
“Our target in Lagos at the moment is 5000, so we have started today (Wednesday) and we have been able to achieve over 700 hundred. We are close to one thousand today and we still have more to go. It is not just to say we are just targeting 5000, but, we are not doing less than 5000 for this year 2025 in Lagos State.
“We have started with Ikorodu Zumuratul Islammiyah Grammar School in Igbogbo, and we are set to go to all the divisions in Lagos State, especially the rural areas where girls lack pad.”
Comfort, who is the Deputy Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), emphasised why her foundation is focusing on girls in the rural areas of the state.
“We have the rural areas especially, places lie Makoko, that are under-served where people cannot afford a pad. People think that it is the same everywhere, but we heard from the girls today (at Zumratul Islamiyyah Grammar School, Igbogbo on Wednesday), when some of them said that they use cloth, and others said that they use tissue paper. This is because pad is expensive.
“Pad costs N1500 for a menstrual cycle and you can see that it is a lot for these girls whose parents are struggling to send them to school. How do you want such parents to buy pad for them?” she asked.
Senator Comfort appealed to the government, organisations and individuals to support the Adunni Save A Girl Foundation.
She also enjoined the girls to ensure that they pick their calls because her foundation is talking to organisations to provide those of them that indicated that it is very challenging for them to procure pads in the survey conducted during the programme.
The gender campaigner said such gesture from the organization is a one – off thing and she does not want them to miss the opportunity, while also advising them to take care of themselves.
“I will advise the girls that they should please do not just use anything that they see as alternative to pad. They should not allow their situation to bring diseases into their bodies that might be incurable.
“Please, take care of yourself, because your hygiene is important. Go through the guide, and always ensure the cleanest way during your menstrual cycle and always stay clean,” She charged.
His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, who was represented by Chief (Mrs) Karimot Ojikutu, the Iyalode of Igbogbo Kingdom, expressed happiness at the initiative which was designed to assist the girl – child and charged them to take to all that has been offered them as advice.
The royal father also enjoined the students to stay away from sugary things during their menstrual period, adding that they should also focus on their studies.
Nurse Modupe Adeyinka who took the students through the menstrual cycle and hygiene also emphasised that they should stay clean to avoid infections and be healthy.
She enjoined them to use sanitary pads mainly during their menstrual period, alternatively, she said that they can use tissue paper or cotton wool, adding that such materials must also be disposed very well after use by burning or washing.
On the use of pad, Nurse Adeyinka said that girls need four pads a day or at least three which must not last more than three or four hours.
In his remarks, Comrade Olalekan Biliamin Oba, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State, jokingly said that he was jealous that the entire conversation at the event are all about the girl – child.
While commending the Convener of Adunni Foundation for sustaining her campaign, Oba who was the immediate past Chairman, Lagos State NYCN charged the students to do everything legitimate including prioritizing their education to be successful and make themselves useful to the community.
He also called on them to emulate the Convener of Adunni Foundation by also giving back to the society when they have the opportunity.
The Principal and students of the school were full of commendations for the foundation.
Miss Oluwaseyi Adeigbe, a student said that she has learnt about lots of useful lesson regarding menstruation and hygiene.
“I have learnt a lot from the Adunni Save A Girl foundation and they are very helpful, because I have heard a lot about menstrual hygiene, menstrual cycle, how to take care of your cycle and mood swings and other lessons.
“I want to say thank you to the foundation for this kind gesture and for those that sponsored it.”
In her words, Fikunayomi Shogbesan, another student, also thanked the foundation for the programme:
“I want to say a big thank you to the NGO that organised this programme for us.
“On behalf of the girls in Zumuratul Islamyiat Grammar School, I will like to say thank you very much for making this day possible. God will continue to bless you, and whatever you pray for you will not lack and He will always answer your prayers.
“I learnt to maintain good menstrual hygiene; to be proud during my menstruation, and to be proud that I am a lady. Once again, I will like to say thank you to Adunni Save A Girl Foundation.”heard a lot about menstrual hygiene, menstrual cycle, how to take care of your cycle and mood swings and other lessons.
“I want to say thank you to the foundation for this kind gesture and for those that sponsored it”
In her words, Shogbesan Fikayomi, another student, also thank the foundation for the program.
“I want to say a big thank you to the NGO that organised this program for us.
“On behalf of the girl in Zumuratul Islamyiat Grammar School, I will like to say thank you very much for making this day possible. God will continue to bless you, and whatever you pray for you will not lack it and He will always answer your prayers.
“I learnt to maintain good menstrual hygiene; to be proud during my menstruation, and to be proud that I am a lady. Once again, I will like to say thank you to Adunni Save A Girl Foundation”.
