We received training on how to make and sanitise our sanitary pads during our monthly cycle, a guidance we never thought existed due to a lack of awareness stemming from societal and financial challenges. This lack of awareness is a key factor contributing to vaginal issues and the rising rate of infectious diseases affecting both young and older women. Aisha Musa Idris, from the Kadawa community in the Ungogo local government area of Kano State, shared her experiences following a menstrual health management training session organised by “Girl H” through the in collaboration with Mercy Corps.
Fatima’s first engagement in “Girl H” becomes an eye-opener to the dangers surrounding the use of expired or damaged sanitary pads during menstruation.
According to her options, affordable alternatives like making local pads, duration of usage, and chemicals for cleaning were provided during the training organised at the Islamic Centre in the Ungogo LGA by a non-governmental organisation working to eradicate life-threatening diseases and empower girls and women with healthy knowledge and skills.
However, Asma’u Zakari Ya’u, the Girl H projects officer in the Ungogo local government, revealed that “the training they organise for the women is timely, as disease like reproductive and urinary tract infections and other life-threatening diseases are on the rise among adolescent girls and women in Africa, especially in northern Nigeria.
Mensuration is nature, and women often experience the circle mostly after 28 days in every month. Action must be taken considering the widest range of infections among women and young girls, so Wali’s Empowerment has been on track to providing solutions to the lingering issues by training the young girls in different skills to have a healthy means”.
We also understand that many can’t afford to buy sanitary pads during their monthly circle, especially those from disadvantageous families. They mostly use rags that are not disinfected, but with this programme, we guide them on a process that will enable them to produce pads using cheap but quality materials and in a very hygienic way. Moreover, we have also created awareness that highlights the dangers of using untreated rags as pads.
Beside health living, we also understand the importance of financial literacy, and as such, we developed a mechanism called safe spaces, which was done in two batches, circle one and circle two, Asmaa’u continued.
During the training, the participants were equipped with financial literacy and life skills. We also provided them with MIW, a matching of work to interest that was administered to each, which allowed them to choose the area’s they felt comfortable with as to what they wished to do based on the available skills we have for the training, ranging from tailoring, shoe making, bits and vails making, and liquid soap, among others. Asmaa’u added.
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