Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
The Minister, Mrs Pauline Tallen, said at the launching in Abuja that the programme was part of activities to mark the 2021 Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The day, with a theme, “We need to Step Up Action and Investment in Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Now”, is aimed at making sanitary pads available at all times for emergency use.
The day, with a theme, “We need to Step Up Action and Investment in Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Now”, is aimed at making sanitary pads available at all times for emergency use.
“A Pad Bank is today instituted in the Ministry and it will serve as a model for all Public Institutions, including ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs),Hotels, Banks and indeed even in supermarkets and open markets.
“This is to enable girls’ anywhere and everywhere to have access to pad in times of emergencies, when suddenly they experience their monthly flow which can come at any point in time without warning,” she said.
According to her, the ministry had set up a committee at the MHHM to ensure that adolescent girls and women of reproductive age are able to manage their menstrual cycle with dignity.
While calling on stakeholders to replicate the gesture by establishing menstrual pad bank in their facilities, Tallen said menstrual items will be donated to schools around the six Area Councils of the FCT and other states across the federation with support from partners.
Also, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Anyhonia Ekpa, stressed the need to promote good menstrual health and hygiene management and break stigmas that exist around young girls and women during their menstrual cycle.
Also, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Anyhonia Ekpa, stressed the need to promote good menstrual health and hygiene management and break stigmas that exist around young girls and women during their menstrual cycle.
Comfort Lamptey, the UN Women Country Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, stressed the need for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, particularly in schools, to eliminate reasons girls don’t attend schools during their monthly period. Lamptey called for increased funding of the ministry of women affairs to enable it achieve its mandates on women and children issues.
Sharon Oladiji, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF, charged parents and the media on communicating with children and public on appropriate information on menstrual hygiene, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and rights. Similarly, Raquel Daniel, a Consultant, urged parents to build their children’s knowledge on menstrual hygiene to enable them get information from reliable sources.
Speaking on behalf on Women in Area one Internally Displaced Peoples’ (IDPs) camp, Miss Fatima Mohammed, decried the lack of access to sanitary items, especially water and pads during their monthly period.
According to her, most of the women resort to using their head-scarfs or old clothes as sanitary pad. She, however, expressed appreciation to the ministry and other partners that donated sanitary pads to them.
Mohammed said the exercise would provide them with alternative materials used during their menstrual period. She said it will also enable them to take care of their personal hygiene, and control their mobility. (NAN)
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