The FAB Treasure Foundation and Smile Outreach have launched initiatives aimed at improving menstrual health and hygiene among women and girls in the Wassa Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The joint effort is part of a broader strategy aimed at supporting government efforts and demonstrating the power of partnership in achieving sustainable solutions and menstrual equity and was targeted at the most vulnerable young members of the Nigerian population.
Festus Abigail, Executive Director (ED) of FAB Treasure Foundation, speaking on Tuesday at the outreach programme to commemorate the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, emphasized the importance of identifying and intervening in communities like Wassa IDPs Camp, where women and girls face significant challenges in accessing basic menstrual hygiene products and education.
According to her, the foundation’s mission is to create a period-friendly world where all women and girls can experience their periods with dignity and pride, breaking down barriers and stigma surrounding menstruation.
Approximately 100 teenage girls at the camp received valuable guidance on menstrual hygiene and were provided with essential materials to support their monthly menstrual needs.
Emphasising that the organization’s outreach programs are not meant to suggest that the government is neglecting its responsibilities, Festus said: “Our outreach program is designed to complement and support government efforts.
“We hope our activities inspire the government, other NGOs, and selfless individuals to join the movement for a comprehensive approach to menstrual health and hygiene”.
According to her, the need to address menstrual health in vulnerable communities like Wassa IDPs Camp, where women and girls face significant challenges in accessing basic menstrual hygiene products and education, cannot be overemphasized.
“This lack of resources affects their health, well-being, dignity, and self-esteem. By providing education and supplies, we help break down barriers, stigma, and misinformation surrounding menstruation.” She added.
Abigail also noted that their intervention aims to promote gender equality and empowerment by educating and equipping women and girls to take control of their health and futures.
She also revealed that the next steps for the NGOs include establishing sustainable pad stations within the camp to ensure continuous access to menstrual products.
On her part, Ayomiposi Ogundipe, a representative of Smile Outreach, elaborated on their initiative, the Good Cycle Initiative, which was launched in conjunction with World Menstrual Hygiene Day, saying, “We are here to launch a Pad station at the IDP camp.
“This project involves setting up Pad stations at schools, IDP camps, and prisons to provide access to menstrual products and ongoing education.”
Saying, that menstrual justice involves advocating for period dignity, which means using the right products during menstruation, she noted, “Many women use makeshift materials like rags, leather, nylon, cotton wool, and even paper due to lack of access to proper menstrual products.
“Our Pad stations aim to provide these products and educate women and girls about healthy menstrual practices. The initiative is not just about providing supplies but also about creating advocates for menstrual justice. We want the girls and women we train to pass on this knowledge.
“Our goal is to make a significant impact within two to three years, reaching many communities directly and indirectly.”
Addressing the economic barriers to menstrual health, Ogundipe noted that lack of information is often as significant a problem as financial constraints.
“When a girl knows that using rags, toilet tissues, or paper is unhealthy, she is more likely to seek proper menstrual products. We aim to provide both the products and the information needed to make healthier choices”, he said.
Geoffrey Bitrus, chairman of the Wassa IDPs Camp, expressed gratitude for the initiatives, saying, “We are very grateful to FAB Treasure Foundation and Smile Outreach.
“This is a wonderful program for my people, especially the adolescent girls. We could only select 100 girls out of the 1,000 who need help, but those selected are very happy and grateful.” (Nation)