Operation Pad A Girl Initiative, an advocacy organization has donated hundreds of sanitary pads to female students in Bayelsa State.
The group made the presentation within the premises of the Bayelsa State School for Children With Special Needs, Opolo in Yenagoa Local Government Area on Thursday.
The group also educated the female students on how to change and dispose off their menstrual materials safely and with dignity.
At the ceremony, the Secretary of the group, Opemipo Emmanuel, said many female students do not know much about menstrual hygiene and how to care for themselves.
“The issue of menstrual hygiene management remains a significant barrier to education for many girls in our society.
“Accordingly, Operation Pad A Girl Initiative is aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene and supporting academic development,” she said.
The organisation co- founded by four practising licenced pharmacists in the state, namely, Ruth Obidake, Opemipo Ephraim-Emmanuel, Esther Oduru and Sharon Anene, said by the gesture, they aim to empower girls to carry themselves with dignity and attend school with confidence.
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While the group distributed sanitary pads to each girl, educational material like pens were given to the boys to aid their studies.
One of the founders of the initiative, Anene, said no girl deserves to miss school due to lack of proper menstrual hygiene products.
“Our objective is to empower boys and girls on menstrual hygiene. We have also provided social support to over 1,200 girls and 800 boys across three communities and five low-resource private secondary schools in the state including the Bayelsa School for Children with Special Needs.
“In addition, we distributed sanitary pads to over 1,200 girls and stationery to the boys.
“Understandably, menstruation needs ongoing support, hence, we advocate that stakeholders should include annual pad donations in their corporate social responsibility efforts and ensure access to toilets, water, and safe spaces for girls to protect their dignity during menstruation,” she stated.
