NAWOJ FCT Distributes Pads To Students, Advocate Subsidy

Hundreds of female students of the Junior Secondary school Jabi 1, have been supported with sanitary pads and writing materials by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, FCT Chapter.

The Chairperson of the Association, Comrade Bassey Ita Ikpang explained that the gesture was part of efforts to sensitize the teenagers about menstrual hygiene and Gender Based Violence.

The one day sensitization programme was organized by NAWOJ FCT in collaboration with Little Angel Pads
In Abuja.

Comrade Ikpang used the occasion to call on government at all levels to formulate a policy that would encourage free distribution of pads or subsidize it for students and women across the country .

According to Comrade Ikpang, many indigent students in rural communities do not have funds to buy sanitary pads due to the constant rise in the cost of the products.

The NAWOJ Chairperson was of the opinion that if condoms are given for free in hospitals and by some NGOs, pads for the girl child/students and women should be relatively cheap or even free.

Reacting to reports from some quarters that some female students that could not afford to buy pads often exempts themselves from school to avoid the shame of getting stained, Comrade Ikpang encouraged the students to build the right attitude, confidence, and speak out to those that could properly guide them.

“You just have to speak out. It is your right to speak out”.

“If condom is free, let’s make menstrual pads free too. Condom is a choice but menses is a natural occurrence, yet the cost of pad is going high every day and out of reach for our girls”Ikpang lamented.

In an interactive, it was gathered that some students resolved to use pieces of clothes and tissue papers as alternatives while menstruating.

They, however, noted that the alternatives are not without challenges, as they are often faced with the issue of inadequate water and soap to have a good wash, while the tissue paper easily get soaked.

The students with joy on their faces, expressed their appreciation to NAWOJ FCT Chapter, and appealed to the Federal government to make menstrual pads free for them.

According to one of the students, “menstration is a natural monthly thing. We don’t have control over it until nature says so, that’s why the government needs to help control the price of pads for students” .

Earlier in her remarks the Vice Principal, Junior Secondary school Jabi 1 Abuja, Mrs Rabiatu Abdullahi lauded NAWOJ FCT’s intervention and called on other women groups to emulate the Association by supporting female students in any way possible .

“We appreciate your coming. If others can also do such and invest in our girl child, the society will be a better place.

Guest Speakers, including the News Manager, independent Television, ITV, Fransicar Ogar and Noami Okomudo of Abuja Royal Women Empowerment initiatives took turns to make their presentations to students on Gender Based Violence and menstrual hygiene.

Highlight of the event was the distribution of sanitary pads while the boys received writing materials.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji