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Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo has advised girls to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation.
She said such measures would help prevent infections, manage their menstrual cycle with dignity and beat down stigmas arising from menstrual emergencies.
Soludo, Founder of Healthy Living initiative gave the advice during the distribution and establishment of pad banks in schools to promote menstrual hygiene among girls at the Anambra State College of Health Technology, Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area.
The distribution of the pads was part of the activities to mark Menstrual Hygiene Day which is commemorated every May 28, to highlight the importance of menstrual hygiene and raise awareness of issues faced by women and girls who do not have access to sanitary products.
According to the governor’s wife, menstruation is a normal biological process and part of a woman’s life and not something to be ashamed of or to be stigmatised.
She said: “Health Living with Nonye Soludo recognised that with the rising cost of sanitary pads, many women and girls in Nigeria are experiencing menstrual poverty as they can not afford sanitary pads.
“This poverty made many women and girls resort to unhygienic materials to absorb menstrual blood which could cause reproductive infections, urinary infection among others.
“Accessibility to sanitary pads remains a major concern and It gets even worse when menstrual emergencies break out in schools. Therefore, we want to intervene where it matters the most.
“Establishing this blood banks will
enable girls have access to pads when they suddenly experience their monthly flow. No girl in Anambra shall be deprived of education due to menstruation.
“Menstruation shows you are developing appropriately as a young woman and you should be happy because you are on the right part to adulthood.”
Provost of the College, Dr Daniel Ezeobi appreciated the Governor’s Wife for the gesture, promising adequate distribution to ensure all students benefited from the items.
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