Foundation Donates Pads To Imo School Girls To Curb Absenteeism On Menstruation

By Chigozie Uzosike…

In a bid to ensure that the school girl is not absent from school during her menstruation, a non-governmental organization, Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF) has launched a program ‘Always Keeping Girls in School’ (AKGIS) with the donation of pads to five schools in Imo State.

Speaking to newsmen during the training of the school girls on menstrual hygiene and management, the monitoring and evaluation/communication officer of Tabitha Cumi Foundation on behalf of the Executive Director, Keren Samari noted that the foundation is providing emergency pad banks to each of the five schools which included: Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Egbu in Owerri North local government, Nkwerre High School, Community Secondary School Amaraku in Isiala Mbano LGA, Atta Co-Educational Secondary School Ikeduru LGA and School of Deaf and Dumb Ofeketa.

“Sometimes, girls use to have emergency periods or menstruation in schools and so working with their guidance and counselling/Family Life and Health Education teachers they will help them with the sanitary pads. Sanitary pads will be provided for each of fourty girls in the five schools for twelve months. There’s a whole issue of inaccessibiliby to pads especially with incident of Covid-19 and so provision of pads wasn’t a priority. Period is a necessity and it must come when it must come and we do not want any girl to be absent from school because that girl is in her period. Period is not a shameful thing, it’s the pride of any girl. “Let every girl learn to glow and flow with their period”.

“We want to support the girls to have access to pads in the school especially during their menstruation, increase attendance to classes so that the girl student is not denied education and learning because they’re in their period”.

Samari lauded the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) America and Procter and Gamble (P&G) for their support in addressing and curtailing the increased absenteeism of girl students during their menstruation by making pads available in schools especially that the project focuses on increase in retention of marginalized girls in schools, provision of hygiene materials and correct information on menstrual hygiene management. She urged the students to step down all they have learnt to other girls and ensure there’s a ‘Safe Space Club’ where the girls can confidentially talk to their teachers on menstrual issues.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB), Hon. Chidiebere Egboh noted that the ‘Always Keeping Girls in School’ Program marks a significant milestone in the collective effort to ensure that no girl in Imo state is denied education because of natural biological processes. “The establishment of pad banks and the supply of sanitary pads to five schools for one year will go a long way in reducing absenteeism, boost confidence and improve academic performance among girls”.

In her contributions, the Director, UNICEF and Other NGO Unit, IMSUBEB, Dr. Mrs. Adim Madumere lauded Tabitha Cumi Foundation and her partners for their visionary commitment to keeping girls in school through their intervention while urging the girls and teachers to take the issue of pad banks seriously in their various schools.