Spouse of APC hopeful distributes 2,000 sanitary products, educates female students in Osun

On Tuesday, hundreds of teenage girls in Apomu Kingdom benefited from a community outreach program, receiving 2000 free menstrual pads and valuable health education, courtesy of Dr Sekinat Bola-Oyebamiji, wife of an APC governorship aspirant and President of the Medical Women Association, Osun State Chapter.

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The donation, which included practical guidance on menstrual hygiene and girl-child welfare, aimed to empower young women with the knowledge and resources necessary to manage their menstruation with confidence and dignity.

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Dr Oyebamiji emphasized the significance of addressing menstrual hygiene, stating that it is a crucial health issue that every girl faces while growing up, and that the lack of resources to handle this natural event can be overwhelming.

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She further emphasized the importance of providing girls with appropriate knowledge and orientation, enabling them to function effectively as individuals and groups in society, and reducing absenteeism from school due to menstruation-related confusion and stigma.

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Olori Janet Afolabi, a CNN award-winning journalist and Queen of Apomu Kingdom, who organized the event, highlighted that "period poverty" is a major cause of absenteeism among girls in rural areas, and that the 2000 pads distributed will last many of the girls for several months.

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Afolabi also noted that the education component of the program is a long-term investment in the girls' leadership development, as it will stay with them for life and have a lasting impact on their lives.

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The event, held at Alapomu Hall in Apomu, was attended by the Wife of the APC Deputy Governor Aspirant and the Woman Leader of the Osun state APC, among others, and included an interactive session led by nurses and female educators on menstrual hygiene and related topics.

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The session aimed to debunk myths and build confidence around puberty, while also providing the girls with essential information on managing menstruation with dignity and confidence.

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Dr Oyebamiji stressed that managing menstruation should never be a privilege, and that many girls miss school or withdraw socially due to lack of access to basic information and sanitary products.

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Health workers took the girls through proper use and disposal of sanitary products, nutrition during menstruation, and when to seek medical help for irregular cycles or pain, in an open and judgement-free atmosphere.

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School principals present commended the donation, acknowledging that "period poverty" is a significant cause of absenteeism among girls in rural communities, and that the education provided will have a lasting impact on the girls' lives.

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The initiative is part of growing private and public efforts to end period poverty and keep girls in school across Nigeria, and is a step towards removing the barriers that silence girls every month.