MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY: Becky Cares Foundation Engages Kaduna Students On Personal Hygiene and Healthcare

"The knowledge of our young girls as it relates to menstruation is limited but, as parents, it is our collective responsibility to provide guidance and proper enlightenment to these teeming youths in our respective communities".... Becky Anaedo.

Following the celebration of the Menstrual Hygiene Day, which was held on May 28, 2021 by the Becky Cares Foundation for young female students in secondary schools in Kaduna, stakeholders have commended the group, a Non-Governmental Organization for putting the welfare of children as top of its priority.

The event, which held at Government Day Secondary School, GSS Bagado started with words of prayers and an opening speech by Becky Anaedo, Founder and Chief Executive of Becky’s Care Foundation.

According to the Chief Executive of the Becky Cares Foundation, the knowledge of our young girls menstruation is limited but, as parents, it is our collective responsibility to provide guidance and proper enlightenment to these teeming youths in our respective communities.

Becky Anaedo revealed that there is the need for young girls to understand how to take care of themselves during their menstrual circle including how to wash their private area during and after their circle.

In her speech, the Founder of Becky Cares Foundation advised the girls to desist from taking drugs during their circle and also, to detest from consuming family planning pills as teenage girls.

“Abstinence from sex for those who are sexually active, is an important key to avoid unwanted pregnancies”, she counseled.

She disclosed that girls were fond of using sanitary pads with about 1% using both pads and sheets of wrappers during their circle but used the opportunity of the programme to educate them on how to use a sanitary pad.

There was a demonstration on how to properly, dispose the used pads buy a team of volunteers and how many pads to use per day.

The organizers and its team of volunteers also taught the female students on why it is necessary to wash themselves after each change including the need to wash their under wears. Some health challenges like itchy and foul discharge etc were identified as signs of poor personal hygiene in which they were advised to see a qualified medical practitioner for further care.

As young women, they were advised to be proud of themselves as women, encouraged to dress decently while being security conscious especially as it relates to the issues of rape, which has become rampant in the society, and to immediately, report any form of sexual harassment to the appropriate authorities, particularly their parents and guardians.

At the end of the event, the organizer distributed sanitary pads to the students, with a book on career guide also to encourage them on the importance of their purpose and life ambition.