In celebration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Makurdi advocated for menstrual hygiene and education on Tuesday.
This observance, typically held on May 28th, involved distributing menstrual kits to 100 girls from 10 Basic Education Schools.
The Day aims to promote safe and healthy menstrual hygiene practices for all, serving as a platform to advocate for policy changes and raise awareness, ensuring menstruation is viewed as a natural and positive aspect of a woman’s life.
During the event, Dr. Grace Adagba, the Executive Chairman of Benue SUBEB, emphasized the importance of supporting every child in managing menstrual health hygiene.
Represented by the Board Secretary, Dr. Joseph Jande, Adagba stressed the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to help girls overcome the stigma associated with menstruation.
She highlighted the need to boost their confidence, contributing to their education and overall well-being.
She reiterated the commitment of the Benue state Governor, Hyacinth Alia in creating a supportive and inclusive environment through sharing accurate information in ensuring cultural shift from stigmatization to open dialogue for womanhood, especially the girl child, to be treated with dignity.
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Director Social Mobilization SUBEB Mrs Erdoo Sar, noted that the event was put together to educate and empower the students with accurate information to manage their menstrual health and boost their confidence in schools.
In a presentation on effective menstrual Hygiene practices, Head of the Department of Clinical psychology, Federal Medical Centre Makurdi,Dr Perpetual Chia stressed the need for people to always have a sincere conversation on menstruation which is a natural phenomenon in every woman and must not be seen as a secret cult.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Together for a Period-Friendly World.The event focuses on encouraging open dialogues to erase stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation”, she concluded.
