The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Tamunominini Makinde, on Tuesday, joined forces with stakeholders to mark the World Menstrual Hygiene Day, emphasizing the need for improved menstrual sanitation and hygiene among girls and women in the state.
At an event tagged “A day out with the Girls of Oyo State”, held at the House of Chiefs, State Secretariat, Ibadan, Mrs. Makinde, represented by the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, stressed the importance of collaboration to promote menstrual hygiene and address the challenges associated with it.
Over Six Hundred (600) girls from schools across the 33 Local Government Areas in Oyo State, along with their female teachers, were invited to the event, which was organized by the Office of the First Lady.
The programme is an initiative of the First Lady to change the orientation of girls in Oyo State about menstruation and how to be hygienic while menstruating.
Mrs. Oni, representing the First Lady, urged the girls to be conscious of their health while menstruating.
She admonished them to cultivate the culture of personal cleanliness and use appropriate menstrual products.
She also advised them to wash their hands before and after handling any menstrual products, as well as clean their genital areas with water to avoid infections and untimely death.
Her words: “Menstruation is a natural process, and we must not shy away from discussing it. Let us work together to create a society where girls and women can manage their menstruation with dignity and confidence.
“We must ensure that all women and girls have access to affordable and environmentally friendly menstrual products. We must promote comprehensive menstrual education to break silence and stigma surrounding menstruation and create awareness among ourselves, it is only when this is done that we can overcome the prevailing challenges.
“We must empower women and girls to make informed choices about menstrual health and well being, it’s also important to advise our girls that through advocacy, education, and collaboration, we can create a world where every woman can manage their menstruation with dignity and pride.
“Let’s consider our efforts in promoting menstrual hygiene, support women and girls in their menstrual health journey, and work toward a future where menstruation is no longer a barrier but a natural and expected aspect of woman life.
“We can make a difference and ensure that every woman and girl has the right to manage their menstruation.
“Today, we come together, raise awareness, break taboo, and promote good menstrual hygiene for the well being of women and girls worldwide.
“Menstrual hygiene is not just a matter of cleanliness but a fundamental aspect of women’s health and dignity for preventing infection, maintaining physical and mental well being, and ensuring that women and girls are fully participating in daily activities without shame or discomfort.
“If you allow what you allow learnt today to go down with you and practice it, we shall have a together period friendly.
“There are some challenges you face as girls and women, despite the importance of menstrual hygiene, it remains a challenge for many women and girls globally, such as lack of access to sanitary products, inadequate sanitation facilities, cultural taboos, and limited education of menstrual health contribute to difficulties faced by millions of individuals month.”
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Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, Commissioner for Health, emphasized the importance of menstrual hygiene in preventing health complications and ensuring the well-being of girls and women.
She highlighted the state government’s efforts to improve access to healthcare and sanitation facilities, particularly in rural areas..
After the event, the girls were given goody bags containing reusable pads, pants, deodorants, towels, and bathing soaps to take home.
