Reproductive Health: Centre tasks FG on menstrual hygiene policy

The Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability (CATAI) has urged President Bola Tinubu to sustain the menstrual hygiene policy as enunciated in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2.

The centre, an NGO, made the call on Wednesday in Maiduguri while enlightening the public on the importance of menstrual care among women and girls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enlightenment and awareness programme by CATAI is in collaboration with Borno Women Development Initiative (BOWDI), and Care and Support Foundation (CAFOD).

Speaking on behalf of the groups, the Focal Person, Samira Yerima, said government needed to develop policies that would guarantee the right of women to menstrual hygiene.

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“Things like ensuring access to essential equipment, materials and facilities that help protect their dignity and prevent health risks.

“Government at all levels need to prioritise providing public schools with adequate WASH facilities, free sanitary pads to all girls of reproductive age.

“Humanitarian organisations and stakeholders need to sponsor the distribution of subsidised menstrual pads for women below the poverty line and girls in vulnerable communities,” Yerima said.

She also urged public authorities to enforce quality standard of menstrual hygiene products, pointing out that there are several substandard menstrual products in Nigeria that compromised menstrual hygiene health.

A gynaecologist, Dr Ann Peter from University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), who spoke on key challenges being faced by girls during menstruation at the occasion, stressed the need for support to make pads either free or cheap to purchase.

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“If condom is free, why not pad, at least for students?” Peter asked rhetorically. (NAN)