By: Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
Sensitization period during the visit
A non Governmental Organization (NGO) under the auspices of “Hope Builders Foundation for Entrepreneurial Education,” has carried its awareness campaign against negative social norms surrounding menstruation to Internally Displaced Persons in Gwagwada village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
Chief Executive officer to the organization, Dr. Mathias Yashim, made this known to NewsPort Nigeria in an exclusive interview.
According to him, the gesture is very crucial so as to be able to carry everybody along regardless of the distance, conditions and what have you, noted that the young girls in the camp also needs equal treatment even though they are facing one of the difficult moments of their lives.
Hope Builders Team Ready For Work
The two IDPs visited during the campaign includes: Unguwan Gado, where a total of 340 sanitary pads were distributed to young ladies and
Unguwan Mission that received 271 menstrual pads after the sensitization on Wednesday.
Speaking with Journalists shortly after the event, the Village Head Mal. Bitrus Sauri, expressed gratitude to the management of Hope Builders, called on Government and other NGOs to follow suit.
“Am overwhelmed by this visit. For you to take it upon yourselves to go-to the camp and sensitizing the young girls clearly shows that we still have people in this country who really cares for one another. I will like to plead with you for the team to still come back with a workshop on general hygiene and health management. By so doing, the people can be encouraged. He said.
Hope Builders administring pads to the girls during visit
The CEO, Dr. Mathias, while Speaking further, explained that “Menstrual Hygiene Management Hope Builders Foundation for Entrepreneurial Education,” is committed to bringing hope to young people and children in underserved communities in Africa.
“We are positioned now to bring hope to young girls in Kaduna state who cannot afford sanitary pads during their menstrual periods. Approximately 1.2 billion women across the world do not have access to menstrual sanitary products or cannot afford them.This typically leads to unhygienic practices, like using rags, rough newspapers, or cloth napkins in place of pads.” He added.
According to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, (UNICEF) one in ten African children miss school due to their periods and this is what Hope Builders is trying to address.
“This means most girls miss 20% of the school year. We wish to ensure that our young girls have access to sanitary pads. With sanitary pads, our young girls can go to school during that period of the month. They will also escape infectious diseases that may occur due to unhygienic menstrual practices. Dr. Mathias, said.
Hope Builders team
Dr. Mathias further expressed that the organization has taken it upon herself to donate at least 10,000 sanitary pads to Kaduna schools before the end of 2021 and February, 2022 respectively.
Recall, that NewsPort Nigeria earlier reported that the NGO had visited Government Day Secondary School in Kakuri, Kaduna, donated hundreds of menstrual pads to secondary School girls last month.
Director Program, Mr. Courage Simeone Agbeti, said the leading NGO, has targeted over 50 schools before the end of February, 2022.
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