Maintain good health habit while menstruating, Osun first lady charges female students

The wife  of the Governor, Osun State, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola on Saturday called on all school authorities in the state to key into various advocacy campaigns aimed at achieving good healthy living especially the one that centres on  ensuring toilet facilities in schools are kept in clean and hygienic conditions.

Mrs Oyetola stated this during a programme marking the year 2021 menstrual Hygiene Day with the theme, “Stepping up Action for Menstrual Hygiene and Health.”

The event which held at Apara Memorial High School in Atakumosa West local government area of Osun State afforded the First Lady the opportunity to highlight the significance of the day as one of the global efforts at tackling the health and social challenges affecting the well-being of girls and women generally in the society.

Pointing out that girls often face many  challenges in proper and hygienic management of their  monthly flows, Mrs Oyetola identified some of the medically identified health hazards to include   lack of proper information  at the onset of menstrual flows, lack of access to proper materials such as reusable pads and clothes to soak up the menstrual flows.

These and other factors according to her could trigger different diseases in the affected girl or woman as the case may be while menstruating.

Mrs Oyetola who is also the state W.A.S.H Ambassador reaffirmed the commitment and determination of her NGO, IleriIOluwa Development Initiatives not to leave any stone unturned in putting in place  comprehensive campaigns  on the need to improve access to water, sanitation and hygienic lifestyles in Osun State.

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The Programme turned out to be another  avenue where the First Lady, as usual, expressed her discomfiture and disdain over the age old practice of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting.

She therefore called on mother’s particularly  to refrain from subjecting an average girl child to such unhealthy and harmful health practice which she said had sent many victims to their untimely graves.

Speaking during the programme, the Coordinating Director Ministry of Education, Mrs Olaniyan Christiana urged the students of the school not to partake in any unwholesome act capable of jeopardizing their different ambitions in life.

Mrs Olaniyan described education as a priceless meal ticket which  should not be mortgaged .

Earlier in his address of welcome, the  principal of the school, Mr Osunkile Gabriel appreciated the wife of the Governor  for the grace and opportunity given to the school to benefit from the various  health programmes of IleriIOluwa Development Initiatives and Osun State government in particular.

Mrs Oyetola thereafter distributed sanitary pads to the female students of Apara Memorial High school in Atakunmosa West local government to round up the campaign targeted at marking the 2021 Menstrual Hygiene Day being celebrated globally.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE