World Menstrual Hygiene Day: Foundation distributes 10,000 sanitary pads to students in Imo

The Ike Odoeme Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), has distributed 10,000 sanitary pads to students in Imo, to mark the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Our correspondent reports that the foundation distributed the sanitary pads to female students of the Imo State University, Owerri and selected secondary schools, after an awareness campaign in Owerri, on Tuesday.

The World Menstrual Hygiene Day. marked annually on May 28, is dedicated to breaking taboos and raising awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management.

Speaking shortly after the campaign, Programme Director of the foundation, Mrs Sylvie Marie-Eregbu, said the campaign was targeted at girls and women who may not be able to afford the pads.

She said that menstrual health is a fundamental aspect of human rights, dignity and public health.

She added that because of the rising cost of sanitary pads, some persons overuse them before disposing them and thus, run the risk of disease.

According to her, the foundation would be distributing 10,000 sanitary pads each month beginning in May to ease the cost on its users and improve their menstrual hygiene.

“We want to help them maintain proper hygiene, solve possible future maternity complications that could result from poor hygiene.

“Sanitary pads are becoming increasingly expensive, so we’ll be distributing at least 10,000 each month in Imo.

“We have other programmes such as the ‘Take Them Off The Streets’ geared towards sustainable development of the girl child”, she said.

She urged government and good spirited individuals to assist the foundation in achieving menstrual health hygiene among girls to reduce the spate of diseases.

One of the students, Miss Chimdiuto Ejiogu, of the Owerri City School, thanked the foundation for the kind gesture and advised her fellow students to maintain a good level of hygiene while making use of the sanitary pads.

Other schools visited were the Akwakuma Girls Secondary School and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.