No fewer 100 teenage girls in seven secondary schools in Calabar the Cross River State capital on Wednesday received free menstrual hygiene pads from Brencare Foundation and partners.
The gesture was in commemoration of the 2024 menstrual hygiene day with the theme: ‘Together for a #period friendly Cross River State’.
The event which took place at the Women Development Centre, Parliamentary, had students had students drawn from the Special Education Centre Secondary School, UNICAL International Demonstration Secondary School, Government Secondary School Akim, The World of Promise High School, Holy Child Secondary School, Margaret Ekpo Secondary School, and Government Secondary School Lagos Street.
Speaking, the Programme Manager at Brencare Foundation, Ms Rachel Idim, stated that menstrual hygiene day which is observed across the world, highlights the importance of menstrual health which must be recognised as the complete physical, mental, and social well-being of women and girls in relation to their menstrual cycle.
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She explained that Brencare Foundation works to ensure that Cross River sees girls beyond menstrual period, and also come up with policies that support women and girls during menstruation by sharing free sanitary pads to girls in public schools and work places.
Idim added, “for us at Brencare Foundation over the years we’ve also tried our possible best to implement this same project in various communities in northern, central and southern senatorial districts of Cross River State. Everyday for us at Brencare Foundation is a day to talk about this issue about girls. We have the good health project where we talk about menstruation.
“We also train girls on how to make usable sanitary pads. We’ve been to Obubra, Obudu, Yala and other local government areas in the state.
“I wish to thank our partners for this project – Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mediatrix Development Foundation, Calabar Mums, Orange Tables and Prime Progress.”
In her address, the keynote speaker, Nurse Akama Perfecta Eteng took the participants on the topic: ‘Understanding Menstrual Health and Hygiene’, in which she highlighted some difficulties encountered during menstruation such as temporary weight gain and a feeling of heaviness due to accumulation of water in the body, headaches and cramps, painful or heavy feelings in the breast, feeling of irritability, among others.
She also explained the potential risk of poor hygiene and how to dispose a used sanitary pads or a tampon.
The event featured spoken words, games, presentation of gifts/certificates, panel conversations and shared experiences amongst students on how Cross River State can be made a period friendly society. Part of what was highlighted in the discussion was that sanitary pads should be distributed to girls just as condoms are being distributed to boys; there should be public toilets; more sensitisation among others.
Meanwhile in an interview session, Mrs Brenda Effiom Akpata, Founder of Brencare Foundation, emphasized on the need to celebrate the event, stating that it is the stepping stone to motherhood.
“This symposium is very important to us in Brencare Foundation because for the past seven years, we have been consistent in commemorating menstrual hygiene day.
“Before we started, there was little conversation about menstrual hygiene awareness. We started and we were so glad other NGOs joined and we now have more advocates. As an organization, we will continue, we will not relent to ensure that girls, teachers, government, NGOs, everyone is involved in the conversation around menstrual hygiene management,” she said.
