NGO distributes sanitary pads to 1,348 students in Imo

The African Immigrants Resources Center, a United States of America-based non-governmental organisation, has distributed sanitary pads to 1,348 female students in Imo State, saying it is one of its contributions to the girlchild.

The pads were distributed to female students of the Comprehensive Development Secondary School, Owerri, on Wednesday.

The free sanitary pads were distributed as part of the NGO’s ‘Give A Girl A Pad’ (GAGAP) initiative, according to Chimezie Orji-Kalu, who is the convener of GAGAP. She said while giving out the free pads, that the initiative was part of efforts by the organisation to cater to the needs of the girl child.

Oji-Kalu, represented by Winifred Ijeaku, GAGAP coordinator in Imo State, said that among other things, the initiative was aimed at helping young girls avoid the mistakes of the past in the area of menstrual hygiene.

She said that with the pads, problems such as the spread of diseases and low self-esteem resulting from poor hygiene could be avoided.

“In the past, the girl child suffered neglect and exposure to infections but we are changing that narrative. Our vision is to eliminate period poverty, reduce absenteeism from school, and restore the dignity of the girl child as part of our contributions to preparing tomorrow’s woman. Period is supposed to end a sentence not a girl’s education,” she said.

Also speaking, Ngozi Njoku, one of the school’s teachers, thanked the organisation for the GAGAP initiative and urged the students to take the lessons taught them seriously.

She called on government at various levels and well-spirited Nigerians to support the GAGAP initiative to enable the centre achieve its objectives.

Ada Ugochukwu, one of the student’s has expressed gratitude for the free pads and health advice, and prayed God’s blessings on them.