Iloke Egbe
The Cross River State Government in partnership with ToiletPride and SAFEPAD Commemorate World Nutrition and Menstrual Hygiene Day aimed at supporting women and the girl child with required education in the management menstrual floor as a natural phenomenon.
ToiletPride and SAFEPAD are non-governmental organizations operating in the State to provide world-class menstrual hygiene education and quality products which can be reused repeatedly without negative impacts on the user and it's certified medically as it's produced by a trusted partner.
Declaring the event open at the Diamond Hall Metropolitan Hotel Calabar, the wife of the Governor, Her Excellency Bishop Eyoawan Otu, represented by Dr. Mrs Inyang Asibong expressed the commitment of Otu's administration in addressing the challenges that attempt to limit the potential of women and girl child. She said, the partnership aimed to respond to stereotypes and behaviors that have been socially imposed on women against their will mostly at the rural areas.
She admitted that Cross River is 70,% rural and the girl child most times may lack the funds to acquire disposable sanitary pads therefore, the reusable pad is safe, healthy and certified for reuse without complications.
Speaking on the unique pad, the State Business Development officer ToiletPride Mr. John Ogar said the product has global presence and has supported interactive sessions to address market barriers to sustainable access to menstrual health products for girls and women in Nigeria.
According to Mr Ogar, the world nutrition and Menstrual Hygiene Day offers them opportunities to engage Stakeholders in the State in discussion on how best to solve the problem and challenges surrounding the issues of nutrition and Menstrual Hygiene, adding that the product can be reused 100 times.
Addressing stakeholders, the general manager, Cross River State RUWATSSA Hon. Oko Sunday Ebeku represented by Mr Ebit Bassey said the event provides stakeholders a unique opportunity to reflect on the critical issues that are deeply connected to the health, dignity and well-being of girls and women which are nutrition and Menstrual health management.
That good nutrition is fundamental to healthy living, growth, productivity and development as menstrual hygiene remains an essential component of women's health, gender equality, education and human dignity, lamenting that, millions of girls and women across Nigeria still face serious barriers in accessing affordable, safe and sustainable menstrual health products and adequate nutrition.
Adding her voice, the WASH focal person RUWATSSA Mrs. Alice Egbara presented the concept why period poverty still matters, and analyze the peculiarities associated with women and girl child, highlighting some of the traditions, culture, religion and myth that constitutes barriers including limitations to the growth and development of most girls and women in the society. While the Vice Chairman, Odukpani LGA and FEminWASH Ambassador Hon. Mrs. Patricia Nya pointed out that traditions are man-made burdens imposed on women to limit their potential in the society.
Highlights of the event were goodwill messages from relevant Stakeholders, personal stories by witnesses, questions and answers. In attendance were Stakeholders from RUWATSSA, Ministry of Women Affairs, CRS PHCDA, Ministry of Water Resources, State Planning Commission, Stewardship Empowerment Foundation and Clinical Nutrition Research Institute, FEminWASH.
No comments:
Post a Comment