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Hygiene: NAWOJ Wants Govt To Subsidise Sanitary Pads

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) has called on government at all levels to initiate policy that would encourage subsidy and free distribution of sanitary pads to students and women. 

This, the association believed would trim down the high cost of sanitary pads and guarantee improved hygiene for women and students across the country.

Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT, Comrade Bassey Ita Ikpan stated this on Friday in Abuja at a one- day sensitisation programme organised by NAWOJ FCT in partnership with Little Angel Pads. 

News Rider reports that the event provided an opportunity for the association to distribute free sanitary pads to female students and writing materials to boys, all of Junior Secondary School 1, Jabi, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

Ikpang disclosed that the school was selected for the programme, targetted at raising awareness about menstrual hygiene among teenage girls, as well as advocating for accessibility of sanitary products. 

She encouraged the students to speak out especially if sexually abused, lamenting that poor girls and women cannot afford to buy sanitary pads. 

The chairperson added: "Public schools need sanitary pads more. Some of them do things they don't even know, that's why we came here to let them understand that. 

"You just have to speak out. It is your right to speak out. If condom is free, let's make menstrual pads free too. 

"Sometimes, when you go to some public places, you will see condom displayed but we have never seen pads displayed. To use condom is a choice but menses is a natural occurrence that you cannot stop or interfere."

On gender-based violence, Ikpang disclosed that it is important to enlighten both boys and girls on how to curb the menace. 

The Vice Principal of Junior Secondary School Jabi 1, Abuja, Rabiatu Abdullahi commended NAWOJ FCT for the intervention, just as she pleaded with other groups to emulate such gestures toward improving the hygiene of girls.

She suggested that if other professional bodies and the government could invest in the girl-child, the society would be a better place. 

The guest speakers include News Manager of Independent Television (ITV) Fransicar Ogar and Naomi Okomudo of Abuja Royal Women Empowerment initiatives, who made presentations to the students on gender-based violence and menstrual hygiene.

Some of the students and beneficiaries thanked NAWOJ for the gesture and also called on the government to make menstrual pads free for students.

They lamented that high cost of sanitary pads forced them to start using pieces of clothes during their menstruation, while others resorted to tissue paper, which are highly unhygienic. 

These were contained in a statement endorsed by Comrade Bassey Ita Ikpang, and Secretary of NAWOJ FCT chapter, Comrade Nkiruka Okeke. 

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