Int’l Day of the Girl Child: Organisation empowers young girls, women with menstrual hygiene skills, kits.

Experts, activists and representatives of organisations working in the area of girls’ education, health and rights lectured young girls and women.

This was during an educative and sensitisation session at the CBC Moliwe football pitch. The training was organised on Friday October 11.

It was an initiative of non-governmental health, and development non-profit organisation, GOOFIRM. It was organised as part of activities to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child.

The training campaign had as aim to raise awareness of the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and gender equality through sexual and reproductive health rights. 

The young girls and women were taught how to build their self-esteem, health and well-being, understanding their rights as women and their right to education. 

It also involved discussions on health issues affecting girls including mental and reproductive health rights. The participants were schooled on how to understand and master their menstrual cycle using the menstrual beads. 

The beads, according to the experts, will ensure that the girls can always be prepared before they leave for school to avoid embarrassment.

The Programmes Coordinator at GOOFIRM, Andrien Tande Ebot, explained that the organisation was carrying out the reach out sensitisation for young girls and women from the ages of 15 to 25 on menstrual hygiene.

He said it was to give them tips on menstrual and personal body hygiene and to share with them some items like the dignity kits that can help them during their menstrual cycle.

The participants received menstrual and personal hygiene kits like reusable sanitary pads, buckets, cubes of Savon, toothpaste, toothbrushes, detergent, combs, and towels.

They were also trained to make menstrual bracelets, which will help them master their cycle as women so that they can always be prepared.

Speaking to the press after the programme, Andrien Tande Ebot, said their goal was to train the participants to train others. 

“We target young girls and women between 15 to 25 and older women who have children who fall within these age groups hoping that they can share the knowledge learnt with their children and grandchildren who are still menstruating,” she said.

On her part, one of the participants and beneficiaries, Tabi Abang Clementine, said she had learnt a lot that will help her become a better person. 

“…I have learnt a lot, especially in terms of taking care of myself like a woman because previously I did not know how to calculate my menstrual cycle because it fluctuates, but today, I know how to go about it,” she said.

Tabi Abang promised to share the knowledge learnt with her peers so that they could take care of themselves and master their menstrual cycle. 

She has saluted GOOFIRM for the items donated saying “there will help me in taking care of my body and house ensuring a clean body and environment”.

On her part, Innoncencia Eyole Mbonde, another participant and beneficiary said she had learnt that washing her private part with detergent was not healthy.

“I learnt to calculate my menstrual cycle and that it is not good to wash my private part with detergent because it harms it. This knowledge will help me. This knowledge will ensure that I am always prepared and will not be embarrassed when I leave the house unprepared and the cycle starts,” she said.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3260 of Tuesday October 15, 2024