Prime Diamond Initiative for Community Health (PDICH) with the support from Oxfam Voice Nigeria project, organized a one day programme to create awareness and training for women on proper and importance of Hygiene and Menstrual Management.
The program which took at Women Multipurpose hall, Jos, Plateau State have women participants drawn form the three senatorial zone of Plateau state.
The Executive Director , Prime Diamond Initiative for Community Health, Chinasa Onukegbe, said that they are here, because they have been sensitizing, empowering and creating awareness around Menstrual hygiene and sexual health education in three states. Abuja, Kano and Kaduna, and a bit of Lagos.
And for the passed eleven months, they (PDIHC) have been in Plateau state sensitizing girls in communities on Menstrual health, hygiene education and wash activities.
She said that the program is train the trainer session on Menstrual health and hygiene for girls. The participants who are mostly teachers are expected to step down the training to girls in their various schools. The trainees who would be PDICH’s ambassadors in their schools and communities, would provide mentorship, through which girls are going to have safe space for getting more information and education around this conversation that does not happened, because in quote, “its a taboo topic”, people don’t talk about it, PDIHC is trying to get the conversation rolling among people.
It is also our plan in PDICH, through our cottage plant, hopefully, next year 2021 to start producing affordable menstrual products, like the disposable pads. Which is one of the challenges girls having, as most of the menstrual products are expensive and not accessible. Through our ambassadors and our products, these challenges will be reduces to the minimum, if not eliminated.
We (PDIHC) are also hopping to see if we can partner with the government so that these menstrual products, can be made available in schools for the girls.
A special call was made to all participants and mothers, to give special attention and assistance to girls with disabilities to ensure that they have good Hygiene menstruation, as failing to do so will put these girls in higher health risks.
Earlier, The commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Rebecca Adar Sambo represented by Charity Dimlong, In a key note address, says, her ministry is completely behind PDIHC and any other organization that is contributing positively to the development of women, and that is why the ministry is registering its presence in the program that is training women on Menstrual hygiene.
The representative of the Hon. Commissioner, said, the hygiene of a lady, is what makes a lady. She then thank the organizers for organizing the program.
She equally, thank Barr. Simon Lalong, the governor of Plateau state and Chairman, Northern governors forum. For creating an enabling environment in his government, for matters concerning women in the state.
The representative of the commissioner, strongly changed all participants to step down the training they received, to women and girls in their localities.
Amanda Ijeoma Ogboo, the project coordinator, PDICH, and also a facilitator at the training, called on mothers and women to do away with all barriers that is caging them from discussions around menstruation with girls or daughters, she added, if mothers don’t teach their girls, the world would be there to teach them, and what the world would teach may be wrong and harmful, as such, mothers should be very proud and confident, when it comes to discussing menstruation, saying, menstruation is a natural God given thing which help women in having children.
Participants we’re taught on:
*Types of menstrual products,
*Effective communication skills, and
*How to avoid menstrual surprises. Other activities at the program are
+ Questions and Answers session. And
+ Presentation of kits containing menstrual management items to the over, 90 participants that include Women with Disabilities.In a separate interview with TQM, Plannan Bartholomew and Linda Dung Participants with Disabilities thanked PDICH for putting together such a wonderful program to educate women on important issue like menstrual hygiene and for involving women with disabilities.
Abi Izang Igyem, a participant, said that she have gain more knowledge and confidence to teach girls and other women that may be going through hygiene and Menstrual struggle, on how to stay healthy.
SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT
Executive Director , Prime Diamond Initiative for Community Health, Chinasa Onukegbe
Charity Dimlong representing Women Affairs State Commissioner
A cross section of women with disabilities
