A Bauchi-based women-led Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Nurture and Empower Her Initiative (NEHI), has unveiled a menstrual hygiene management handbook designed to educate and empower adolescent girls with accurate information about menstruation and personal hygiene.
The handbook, titled “Bleed with Pride,” was officially presented to the public during an event held at Government Girls College (GGC), Bauchi, on Wednesday. The launch brought together line state line MDAs, students from GGC and several other schools across the Bauchi metropolis, who participated in interactive sessions focused on menstrual health education and awareness.
As part of the programme, students were sensitised on the importance of maintaining proper menstrual hygiene and encouraged to challenge the myths, stigma, and misconceptions often associated with menstruation.
The students also received practical training on the production and management of reusable sanitary pads. In addition, a panel discussion provided an opportunity for experts to test the knowledge of the students on issues relating to menstrual health.
In her welcome remarks, the Principal of Government Girls College, Hadiza Sagir Ibrahim expressed appreciation to NEHI for selecting the school to host the event.
She assured the organisers that the students would effectively utilise and share the knowledge gained from the handbook. According to her, access to accurate information on menstrual health would boost the confidence of young girls and enable them to manage their menstrual periods with dignity, thereby reducing school absenteeism.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, the author of the handbook and Executive Director of NEHI, Florence Uzoanya, said the publication was inspired by the numerous questions and concerns raised by adolescent girls during the organisation’s community outreach programmes.
She noted that many young girls lacked access to reliable information on menstruation, making the handbook a timely and necessary intervention.
Uzoanya described Bleed with Pride as a user-friendly guide written in simple language to ensure easy understanding and assimilation by young readers.
She expressed optimism that the handbook would serve as a valuable resource for promoting menstrual health awareness and building the confidence of adolescent girls.
Some of the students who participated in the programme shared insights gained from the handbook and the training sessions, noting that they had acquired practical knowledge on menstrual hygiene management and the safe use of reusable pads.
0 Comments