On Tuesday, some officials of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) trained schoolgirls in Osun state Public schools on how to make washable sanitary pad in order to achieve menstrual hygiene.
The leader of the team, Hyeladzirah Shalangwa stated that the programme was part of a four-day workshop organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Health Aid For All Initiative (HAFAI).
She hinted that the essence was to help young girls to have access to affordable sanitary pad during menstruation. She stressed that given prevailing economic reality, sanitary pads have become expensive, forcing schoolgirls to either repeat pad or use unhygienic methods. She explained that this unhygienic method has triggered avoidable diseases among schoolgirls.
“There is no doubt that sanitary pad is expensive and the quality is deteriorating but with this training on washable pad, girls are good to go. The training would assist them on how to make washable pads on their own. It will also assist in reducing waste disposal, since the pad is washable".
Another facilitator, Prof. Nkadi Onyegbegbu, the National Coordinator of UNICEF ‘Win 4 Girls Project’ in Nigeria, urged girls to avoid using herb for menstrual pains.
She said taking herbs for menstrual pain could destroy the kidney and other vital organs in the body.
She also advised that “lying on a bed with two legs raised up would assist in reducing menstrual pain.”
