Menstrual Hygiene

To solve the issue of poor menstrual hygiene among vulnerable girls and women in selected communities within Lagos and Ogun state, by sensitizing them on healthy menstrual hygiene and providing hygiene kits which contains sanitary pad, anticeptic soap and deodorants, to 1000 girls and women, this will help to reduce infections and diseases caused by poor hygiene and improve good health among girls and women amid Covid-19, in some communities within the selected states.

The project is targeted at solving the problem of menstrual hygiene in communities within Lagos and Ogun state, Nigeria. Poor menstrual hygiene management has been a global challenge, United Nations in a bid to solve this problem mapped out 28th May annually as menstrual hygiene awareness day. According to world bank in 2018, at least 500 million women and girls globally lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Also, WHO regional office for Europe in 2018, revealed that globally 52% of women and girls are of reproductive age, yet, a massive taboo and stigma still surrounds the topic of menstruation and it is often difficult for girls and women in many countries and regions to practice optimal menstrual hygiene. UNICEF and WHO said that only 29% of the Nigerian population have access to basic sanitation services. This is due to poor menstrual hygiene management and the high cost of purchasing sanitary pads for low income earners. As a result of this, some girls use leaves or rags to manage their period flow which often lead to infections and discomfort. Hence, the need for sensitization and provision of sanitary products to achieve the SDG goal 3 of well-being and health.

Sensitization and campaign on proper menstrual hygiene and provision of hygiene kit which contains sanitary pads, antiseptic soap and deodorants for 1,000 school girls and 500 women directly in Lagos and Ogun states, Nigeria? We have partnered with Girls Inspired Africa to impact the lives of over 2,000 girls and women directly in a mentorship program over the years. To achieve this, we will engage the girls and women we mentored in an online training as well as phone conversations on how to take care of themselves, produce their own local made sanitary pads in a hygienic manner and skills to remain healthy during and after their monthly cycle. Also, a campaign and awareness program will be done online using our social media handles to reach out to more audience. Furthermore, the girls and women will be given a kit of the hygienic products in a designated area on a given date and time, while ensuring social distancing and other safety measures as stated by the WHO.

The target population are young girls from disadvantaged and low income slum communities that have attained puberty and women who are low income earners in Yaba, Makoko, Ajah and Agbado-Oja communities within Lagos and Ogun state, Nigeria. Some of these beneficiaries have been previously mapped out during our girl-child safety program where we have engaged, educated and empowered girls and women on safety and capacity building programs in the past. We have been able to mentor over 2,000 girls and women in a previous session with them in partnership with Girls Inspired Africa. During these interventions, we identified over 1,000 girls and women across some of these communities in dire need of sustainable programs and enlightenment on menstrual health and hygiene. Our mission is to support them during this critical time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Menstrual hygiene cannot wait, as young girls continue to suffer from lack. Solving the problem of menstrual hygiene in these communities will help to curb if not eliminate the risk of infection and diseases caused by poor menstrual hygiene as well as create an impact that is transgenerational on younger girl.

The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has resulted in an increase in the rate of poor menstrual hygiene which has led to health issues such as bacterial infections and diseases in girls and women, this is because of lack of access to hygienic products. During a survey held on over 100 women, over 50 percent has requested for support with sanitary products.