#Menstruation: Association Calls For Valid Information, Right Knowledge For Young Females—-The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Oyo State, says young females need valid information and right knowledge to understand the concept of menstruation.
Its President, Dr Oyindamola Adeyemi, made the assertions
on Tuesday in Ibadan, while distributing a book entitled: “What Our Adolescents Are Asking About Menstruation ?” to selected public schools.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Association donated the book to four public schools in Bashorun area of Ibadan at an event held at Oba Akinleye Memorial High School, Ibadan.
Adeyemi said the book would empower young girls, parents and teachers with valid information about menstruation, sexual and reproductive health, which she said, had been well researched by a team of experts.
She said that culturally, limited discussions on menstrual and sexual-related matters encourages widespread dissemination of false information.
According to her, this is worsened by our girls seeking answers to their concerns from their peers and social media where they also encounter false information.
Adeyemi said that the wrong information, therefore, made them vulnerable for unscrupulous elements in the society to prey on their innocence.
“Therefore, it is important that our young girls have access to valid information, which addresses their concerns and ensures that they are well equipped with the right knowledge they need to understand the concept of menstruation, feel comfortable with it, make the right decisions and ultimately safeguard their reproductive health,” she said.
Also, the State Commissioner for Education, Mr Rahman Abduraheem, represented by Mrs Felicia Oyerinde, Deputy Director Schools in the ministry, charged the girls on some valuable tips to maintaining hygiene.
“Changing your pad every four hours, cleaning your reusable pads properly, keeping your Vaginal area clean and wearing comfortable clean underwear, among many more hygienic ways, which can be cultivated by you all to ensure your wellbeing,” he said.
Also, the Secretary to the association, Dr Olubukola Salam, enjoined the government and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help look into the ways to subsidise the price of menstrual pad for the girl-child.
According to Salam, it would help boost their morale and limit the number of girls who would be absent in schools during their menstrual periods.
In her goodwill message, the MWAN National President, Dr Oyindamola Adeyemi, represented by Dr Kemi Otolorin, urged the government to subsidise sanitary pads and provide good toilets and water in public schools.
