ROWA Campaigns Against Period Poverty, Shares Sanitary Pads To Abia Students

Reach Out With Afrique (ROWA), has embarked on a campaign against menstrual period poverty in government owned schools in Abia State.

ROWA is a non-profit charity project with the vision of reaching out to various categories of under-privileged people in Africa.

The project had its first edition in Abia state on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, visiting two schools; Amuzukwu Girls Secondary School and Ahiaeke Community Secondary School, all in Umuahia the capital city.

Addressing the students, Miss Chigozie Orji, a menstrual hygiene management expert, talked extensively on the usage of pads for female’s monthly menstrual cycle.

She advised the students against using sanitary pad for more than 6 hours as accumulated blood could lead to bacterial infection and damage the womb.

“Always change your pad every 4-6 hours, bath regularly, don’t wear one pad from morning to night because the discharged blood accumulates bacteria which causes infection that can damage internal organs such as the womb as a result of complications.”

Another speaker, Mrs. Oluchi Ndubuizu admonished the students on the need to always shave off their pubic hairs before their monthly period.

“we are talking about menstrual hygiene today, shave your pubic hairs before mensuration…. because the particles of blood that sticks to your pubic hairs will give you infection and itches in your private part”.

Speaking on her inspiration, the convener, ROWA, Miss Jessey Afrique Umah-Kalu, a native of Amangwu Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, said her personal experience while growing up inspired her to embark on the campaign and outreach.

She described period poverty as non accessibility to menstrual products, education and hygiene facilities, which ROWA is out to fight against.

” What inspired me to package ROWA was my personal experience while growing up. I experienced period poverty especially when I lost my dad. I know that many females are going through a lot especially during menstrual period; it pushed me to create ROWA in other to help the girl child and women in the society- ROWA is here to pad the girl child”.

Speaking further to ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER, Afrique frowned at the difference in condom and pad prices in the country. She regretted that sanitary pad is expensive to afford while condom is cheaper and much affordable.

“Condoms are being distributed free to people who have a choice on whether to have s-ex or not;  who will give free sanitary pad to under privileged young girls who cannot afford it and have no choice but must menstruate every month.”

She also called on the government, individuals and other authorities to “Join hands with ROWA to bring an end to the period poverty injustice in Nigeria”.

Afrique added that ROWA will continue to tour schools and other sectors not just in the state but across the country.

Some of the students including miss, Eunice Orji, and Ginika Miracle expressed gratitude to ROWA for educating them on menstrual poverty, hygiene and others. They prayed God to continue making ROWA fulfill her dreams for a better society.

High points of the tour was distribution of 150 sanitary pads to female students of the selected schools and 16 teachers.

 

ROWA is working on the 2nd edition of the “PAD A GIRL PROJECT” and is open for sponsorship.

For partnership and sponsorship, please contact;

+2347030730950, +2348064920566

E-mail: [email protected]

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