Oke Idawene Foundation Celebrates 10th World Menstrual Day, Rolls Out Plans

By Daniel Dafe

In celebrating the 10th World Menstrual Day, the Oke Idawene Foundation has called on stakeholders to partner them and others in tackling poor menstrual hygiene.

The body, in a statement on Tuesday signed by Mrs. Faith Oke Idawene, Director General, Oke Idawene Foundation, said Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to globally highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management.

Idawene said the event was “initiated by the German-based NGO, Wash United in 2013 and observed for the first time in 2014.”

According to the statement, more than 300 million women worldwide on a daily basis menstruate, saying that in total, an estimated 500 million women lack access to menstrual products in most rural parts of the world.

Adding: “That is why the Oke Idawene Foundation has come up with a program, Girl Child Initiative Mission, adding that “every girl child needs a pad in order to eradicate poor menstrual hygiene by promoting healthy living and the need for menstrual hygiene, personal hygiene and menstrual cycle.

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She said the project will in turn prevent vaginal diseases from infections such as urinary tract infection which can result in future infertility and birth complications.

Meanwhile, she said that “neglecting to wash hands after changing menstrual products can spread infection such as Hepatitis b and Thrush.

“Therefore, building the capacity of Guidance and Counselors to support girls on menstrual hygiene management, protecting their dignity by the provision of sanitary pads and advocacy to school management to improve wash facilities and ensure girls stay in school to complete their cycle of education, fight against poverty period,” were their mission.

Health experts describe period poverty as the period of difficulty when girls cannot afford menstrual products during menstruation period.