Menstrual Hygiene: Pad Banks Are Being Opened In Offices
In advance of this year’s celebration of World Menstrual Health and Hygiene Day, some government agencies and departments in Nigeria have opened pad banks for their female employees. This initiative, according to Pauline Tallen, the Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, is to cater for unexpected emergencies while at work.
Mrs. Tallen, had disclosed this information on Tuesday during a briefing with the media, students and other stakeholders in Abuja. Mrs. Tallen stated that the gesture was aimed at creating a better awareness about menstrual hygiene, which was in line with the theme of the annual celebration. The 2022 theme is “Making Menstruation a Normal fact of life by 2030.”
“As the coordinating ministry and the National Secretariat for Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management, we have also made remarkable progress around menstrual health and hygiene management in Nigeria. It is worthy to mention that some ministries through advocacy, are unveiling their Pad Banks, to cater for cases of emergency within their work environment.”
According to Mrs. Tallen, the MDAs also included the ministries of foreign affairs, water resources, agriculture and rural development, interior, youth and sports development and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), amongst many others. She, therefore, encouraged for others, especially those who are in the private sector, to emulate the gesture to support the wellbeing and convenience of women and young girls.
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“I therefore wish to use this opportunity to call on other MDAs and other stakeholders, including airlines, schools and security agencies to join in the campaign to make menstruation a normal pact of life, by setting up Pad Banks in their spaces. Together, if we strengthen our collaboration, existing structures to end violence against children, to secure a brighter future for our country will be sustained.”
Erika Godson, the Deputy Country Representative, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), also encouraged for the general public to see menstrual hygiene as essential for women and young girls. Regarding the issue of obstetrics fistula, Ms. Godson also called upon the relevant stakeholders to improve the quality of services given in the healthcare system.
“We encourage our healthcare system to improve the quality of services, so that women can deliver babies safely and not left with the issue of obstetrics fistula. This will put them in such discriminatory conditions, in which they cannot contribute meaningfully to the society.”
Latifat Kabir-Yahaya, a student, has also stressed the need for students to be able to have access to and afford sanitary pads at all times. She said that the poor access to hygienic menstrual products as well as the poor sanitation infrastructure undermined the educational opportunities, health and overall social status of women and girls.
Likewise, Benjamin Ojionu, a student of Junior Secondary School, Garki, also stressed the need to educate the male-child on issues that are affecting women and children. He said more sensitisation would improve menstrual hygiene and prevent Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
