· Distributes Sanitary Kits To Female Students In Public Schools
As part of the effort to address the challenges faced by female students who have reached puberty, the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment has commenced the distribution of sanitary towels to female students in public secondary schools across the State.
The sanitary towels were distributed to girls in Education Districts across Lagos during the “End Period Poverty Programme” held at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Alausa, Ikeja.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Mrs. Abosede George, spoke at the event, noting that the exercise was undertaken as part of the government’s aspiration to end poverty in all ramifications and promote gender equality.
Mrs. George described the initiative as a crucial step towards ensuring the good health and well-being of children in State public schools, pointing out that poor menstrual health and hygiene undercut fundamental rights including the rights of menstruating women and girls to work and school.
Explaining that the Office of SDGs and Investment launched a pad bank project to ensure that female students in public schools have access to sanitary towels and products, the Permanent Secretary said the issue had become important and urgent.
Her words: “Access to menstrual products and proper sanitation facilities is not just a matter of convenience; it is a matter of fundamental rights and dignity. Poor menstrual health and hygiene limit the opportunities for our women and girls. When our children cannot afford proper menstrual hygiene items such as tampons and sanitary towels or lack adequate Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities to carry out proper menstrual hygiene, they are denied quality education”.
“It is not surprising that the United Nations set aside every 28th of May as the World Menstrual Hygiene Day to call the attention of policymakers to the burden experienced by girls and women as a result of their inability to access menstrual kits. By promoting proper menstrual hygiene, we empower young girls to focus on their education and personal development without the added burden of period poverty”, she said.
She stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is an advocate of a multidimensional approach to ensuring the health, comfort and well-being of women and girls, just as he took cognisance of the complex challenges associated with ‘period poverty’ among the female gender.
While stating that the State Government has been at the forefront of purposeful leadership in the effort towards actualising key targets of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, she explained that the present administration’s developmental policy through T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda addresses key demands of the global ambition.
Mrs. George emphasised the need to break the silence around menstruation and bequeath a more inclusive and equitable future, urging all private sector partners, non-governmental, and civil society organisations to support the government in its mission and create lasting change to improve the lives of thousands of young girls and women across the State.
“We must recognise the far-reaching impact of period poverty on the lives of women and girls and remain committed to finding holistic solutions to address this pressing issue. Tackling period poverty requires a comprehensive approach beyond just providing menstrual products. It also involves addressing the underlying factors that contribute to this problem, including access to proper sanitation facilities, education, and awareness”, she explained.
With a total of 4000 sanitary pads distributed to female students in the six Education Districts of the State, the Office of SDGs pledged to continue the project with support from the private sector, NGOs and civil society organisations.
The Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Agriculture, Office of the Chief of Staff, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Local Government and Community Affairs, and Tutors-General/Permanent Secretaries of the Six Educational Districts were in attendance.
