If there’s access to free condoms for sex, Girls Should Have Access to Free Pads….Dr Ekpenyong
The Cross River State Government in collaboration with the Pink Africa Foundation is calling on various Government Agencies, individuals and groups to as a matter of concern ensure for the unconditional availability and supply of Sanitary Napkins to young girls of reproductive age.
The call was made in regards to the increasing rate of infertility and health complications among young girls in thr country.
These complications are said to be due to the use of unhygenic napkins especially for those who can’t afford the luxury of purchasing Sanitary napkins in order to checkmate the rising state of sexually transmitted infections even at the heat of Covid-19.
Speaking at Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, the Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong said, the reconsideration of gender equality measures should begin from the health and well being of both genders as she calls for free napkin distribution for females just like Condoms are shared among their male counterpart.
She said, Menstruation is unplanned for and unnegotiable and with its effect drastically felt among girls from poor income households ,there is a borne out of frustration to seek alternative but compromising means to gather resources in order to purchase napkins for their monthly flow and maintain good personal hygiene.
She therefore seek for more attentions to be given to the girl child as any breakdown in her health may result into a psychological breakdown of every other members of the family.
Also speaking was the Executive officer for Pink Africa Foundation, Dr Nchewi Ani who capitalised on the provision and designing of clothes and reusable sanitary napkins for girls which can be utilized and managed for as long as a year when properly taken care of.
She said, with Cross River State housing many refugee camps, there is need to compel individuals and groups to support girls in these camps with Sanitary Materials while also admonishing groups who intend to give palliatives to the state and individuals to include Sanitary napkins which she said cannot be over emphasized in the lives of women.
According to her, if Condoms can be made readily available and free of charge for sex which is usually planned, then the need to make pads free is Paramount as mensuration is not negotiable and not everyone can afford a sanitary or even a cloth pad.
She however cautioned girls on the need to maintain good personal hygiene especially as it concerns their reproductive lifestyles.
The highlight of the event was sensitizing of the young girls on the kind of materials that can be used within their monthly flow, Various health complications that may arise using unhygienic materials and the display of various techniques required in making cloth and reuseable napkins as well as the distribution of disposable Sanitary napkins,Toiletries as well as personal protective equipment in the fight against covid19.
