Ahead of the 2024 Menstrual Hygiene Day, Oyo state government in collaboration with Girls to Women with Ease Foundation engaged in a 2 kilometre walk in Ibadan, the state capital, to raise awareness towards the unhygienic use of rags for menstruation, childhood marriage and stigma of teenage pregnancy.
During the sensitization walk from Adamasingba to Dugbe in Ibadan earlier today, Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. TOYIN BALOGUN represented by the Director, Women Programme, OGUNJIMI DIYA, highlighted that the state government has included proper menstrual hygiene to the school curricular and is working to ensure easy access to sanitary towels and other appropriate health product for girls.
Director DIYA also praised the Founder of the Foundation, as well as other stakeholders for helping to fight against a health hazard that may cause lasting damage to the lives of uninformed individuals.
Speaking to Solutions FM, Founder, Girls to Women with Ease Foundation Dr. OLUFUNMI ADEGBILE, decried the old-fashion knowledge of using rags, leaves, newspapers, tissue papers, during menstruation, passed from mothers to their girl-child.
She disclosed that the Foundation has seen cases whereby the victims develop chronic diseases like cervical cancer, infertility and infections, from the use of these materials which eventually causes lasting damage to their body.
On his part Chairman of the Foundation, ADEMOLA ADEGBILE emphasized the importance of government’s intervention in putting a stop to the old practice, highlighting the need for sponsorship and investments in NGOs to help reach people in the grassroot level.
He also urged both men and the government to be sympathetic to this cause as it concerns everybody in the society.
Also, Programme Co-ordinator; BUKKY OBINDO, said lack of adequate knowledge on proper menstrual hygiene has caused a lot of women an eventual failing health.
She also spoke on the need for people to desist in stigmatizing victims of teenage pregnancy, while calling for more understanding of their situation.
The Girls to Women with Ease Foundation aims to regularly provide sanitary towels for girls, fight against childhood marriage and stigmatization of teenage pregnancy.
 
 
 
