Heal For Africa Initiative (HFAI), an NGO, on Monday said it had concluded plans to educate 3,000 girls on sexual health and good menstrual hygiene across 10 schools in Kogi.
Dr Kelechi Okoro, Founder of the NGO, disclosed this at a sensitisation and empowerment programme organised for teenage girls of Muslim Community Secondary School, Lokongoma, Lokoja.
She said that the project was officially inaugurated in May this year, tagged: “Pay Attention To Her’’ (PATH).”
She said that the programme aimed at promoting healthy menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls and educating them on sexual health.
Okoro said that the PATH project aimed at empowering 3,000 girls in 10 selected schools across three Kogi senatorial zones and had impacted over 300 hundred girls of Al-Anshal Secondary School New Layout, Lokoja.
“We are here today to educate another 300 schoolgirls of Muslim Community Secondary School, on good menstrual hygiene which is the second school tour of the PATH project.
“We are educating young girls, ladies in particular and the public, about menstrual hygiene as well as breaking the stigma, clarifying myths and misconceptions around menstruation.
“There will also be a lecture on girl child empowerment, self esteem and confidence as a tool for nation building and donation of free sanitary pads and other hygiene products.
“Period is a thing of pride; you don’t have to be ashamed of it. It is everybody’s business. We must demystify menstrual period,” Okoro said.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, commended the NGO for the initiative and urged other relevant stakeholders to emulate the gesture.
Osikoya was represented by Mrs Ahman Animoku, Director Education Support Services.
Mrs Petra Onyegbule, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Yahaya Bello, advised the girls not to allow anybody to make them feel inferior.
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According to her, “confidence is actually one way to depict your mental strength.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CPS, who doubles as the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the NGO, adopted one of the school girls, Godiya Mathew.
Mathew was adopted because of her impressive write-up in the programme.
“I decided to adopt Godiya Matthew due to her impressive contribution and boldness; she understands who she is, so, she needs all inclusive grooming and mentorship to develop her confidence”.
In her contribution, Godiya said: “As a girl, you should be proud of yourself because you are the mother of nations. God created you as a helper to the man from the beginning.
“So, there is no need for you to be ashamed of yourself because God has created you beautifully and wonderfully.”
Mrs Esther Omodara, Vice Principal, Academic of the school, thanked the NGO for the gesture.
Halimat Abdullahi, one of the participants, expressed her delight on the sensitisation and empowerment programme, saying that she has been better informed about menstrual hygiene.
Items distributed by the NGO include; sanitary pads, soaps, detergents, antiseptics, deodorants, tissue papers, and beverages, among others.
