In a bid to address 'period poverty' and keep girls in school, Dr. Sekinat Bola-Oyebamiji, President of the Medical Women Association, Osun State Chapter and wife of an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, recently donated 2,000 menstrual pads to hundreds of teenage girls in Apomu Kingdom, Osun State.
Menstrual Hygiene Education
Bola-Oyebamiji emphasized the importance of menstrual hygiene as a key health issue for every girl. She stated, 'The challenge can be overwhelming if resources to handle this natural event are lacking. We owe girls the duty to provide appropriate knowledge and orientation to help them function in society. This will also prevent absenteeism due to confusion and stigma.'
She added, 'Many girls miss school or withdraw socially because they lack pads or basic information. Today we are fixing both. If we want our daughters to lead, we must remove the barriers that silence them every month.'
Event Organizer's Remarks
Olori Janet Afolabi, the event organizer and Queen of Apomu Kingdom, noted that 'period poverty' is a major cause of absenteeism for girls in rural areas. Afolabi, a CNN award-winning journalist, said, 'The education part will stay with the students for life. Menstrual education is an investment in leadership.'
Distribution and Interactive Session
The sanitary pads were distributed to students from public and private secondary schools across the town. The donation was paired with an interactive session led by nurses and female educators, covering menstrual hygiene, debunking myths, and building confidence around puberty. School principals present commended the donation, highlighting that 'period poverty' is a major cause of absenteeism for girls in rural communities.
