NGO calls for integration of menstrual health into school curriculum 

From Victor Edozie,in Port Harcourt

A youth advocate Non Governmental Organization, ‘The EmpowerHer Project’ has called on federal , states and local authorities to integrate menstrual health into school curriculum across the country.

The founder of the NGO, Elizabeth Aderonke Odukoya made the call at the unveiling of a book titled, ‘Periods,  Pads and Proud’ in Port Harcourt.

Odukoya said,  the group backed by a growing network of 60 passionate volunteers from students and medical professionals are carrying out advocacy on the importance of menstrual health.

She said that the NGO is also working with schools and local authorities to integrate menstrual health into school curriculums and also advocating for a future where no girl has miss school, feel ashamed , lack the resources she needs simply because of her period.

She pointed out that the organization has reached out to more than 3000 girls across 11 schools and communities in Nigeria, delivering interactive health talks and  distributed over 3000 free menstrual products and promoting sustainable, reusable sanitary pads as a long term and eco friendly solution.

She said “Backed by a growing network of 60 passionate volunteers from students and medical professionals to educators. The EmpowerHer Project is building a movement for change. We are working with schools and local authorities to integrate menstrual health into school curriculums and advocating for a future where no girl has to miss school, feel ashamed or lack resources she needs simply because of her period.

“In just over a year we’ve reached more than 3000 girls across 11 schools and communities in Nigeria, delivering interactive health talks, distributing over 3000 free menstrual products and promoting sustainable,reusable sanitary pads as a long term , eco friendly solution.

“Our work goes beyond product distribution. We break the silence and stigma around menstruation through open and practical education. We empower girls with knowledge and confidence to manage their periods safely and with dignity, while also engaging teachers, parents and communities to challenge harmful myths and taboos.”

 The  Director, Quality Assurance, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr Chinedu Nwaodu urged young girls , parents and teacher to take  menstrual health serious.

Dr Nwaodu said all  the secondary schools in Rivers State are equipped with relevant facilities to educate girl child about  menstrual health.

She urged both teachers and parents to educate the girl child on the importance of menstrual health.

“So it depends on the teachers if they carry it out if they teach this topic very well and I’m not talking only about our teachers I am also talking about our parents , you mother’s, you fathers what  do you know about menstrual health. One of our Directors told me that when her daughter first saw her period instead of telling her mother the girl went to the father to tell him and  it was the father that informed the mother about that.

” Even some of us as mothers we are not doing what we supposed to do. As for the schools it’s there in the curriculum it’s their in the scheme of work. So I implore the Principals , the Principal junior secondary, Principal senior secondary to work on your teachers, monitor them , know what they are doing atimes you enter their classrooms to see what they are doing to see if they are actually teaching what they supposed to teach.

“You have to do your own part I have also spoken to the Director of Planning ,  Research and Statistics ,PRS , I have told him about the book to see what to do about that. We are also going to talk to the private school owners to see how we are going to get this books into the private schools. I implore  the girl child be proud of yourselves , stand tall anywhere you are , menstrual period is natural , it’s very very natural,” she said.

Reviewing the book Professor Kaladada Korubo, a Professor of Haematology in the  college of medical science, Rivers State University, said,  the book throw more light on what female genital system is all about and talk about what menses and  period actually means.

She noted that the book  explained what manque is  all about saying that manque is the very first time a girl has her period.

 “So the advantage is that knowledge is power so for that little girl who doesn’t know anything about menses having read this book that little girl is going to know it all. Some of us as mothers have never even discuss menses , period with our girl child we just wait we start observing the child when the child is about 9 , 10 years,” she said.