When it comes to children’s growth and development, our educational system is critical because it prepares them to respond to the changes and challenges that they face on a daily basis. In many cases, however, it avoids discussing issues related to menstruation and menstrual hygiene management because it is considered a personal matter that should be discussed within the family. It is a silent issue in many young women’s lives, and the attitude of teachers, the school environment, and infrastructure all have an impact on it. As a result, many young women choose to skip school during this time. The absence of sexual education from the school curriculum has a negative impact on the lives of students. Book, friend, and the Internet are all sources of information about puberty, sexual intercourse, menstruation, and other physiological changes in one’s body. This information, however, is often incomplete or inaccurate because of a lack of knowledge and social interaction, teasing and taunting with hurtful nicknames are commonplace in schools these days. Female students find it difficult to survive in such an environment, and as a result, they frequently miss school.

A large number of schools have male and female teachers who are apprehensive about talking to their students about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Female teachers are also in short supply in a lot of places. It is common for teachers to skip over such topics in textbooks in order to avoid open discussion in class or to avoid answering questions from students. It has also been discovered that some girls are afraid to stand up to answer teacher’s questions for fear of leakage or smell, and that some girls are afraid to write on blackboard for fear of any menstrual accident or blood stains on their clothes being seen by others because of the unsupportive environment in their schools. When girls reach puberty, some parents do not allow them to attend school because they are concerned about sexual harassment by boys and male teachers at the institution.

It is necessary for male teachers and employees in schools and institutions to be well educated and confident in their knowledge of menstrual hygiene management so that they can support girls and women by providing a safe environment as well as privacy during their periods. A committee of teachers, both male and female, should be formed in schools to raise funds for the provision of sanitary napkins, soap, water, and toilet facilities in schools, allowing girls to manage their menstrual cycles with ease and safety. sanitary napkins, soap, water, and toilet facilities in schools A dustbin for menstrual waste should also be provided by the committee. Girls and boy’s toilets should be separated in schools, as well as toilets with proper doors and locks. Education about menstrual health management and the connection between it and girls’ health should be emphasized in the curriculum. They should also educate female students on proper disposal of used menstrual products at home and at school, as well as the dangers of throwing them out in the open or flushing them down the toilet. In order to raise awareness among students, schools should organize open discussions on topics such as puberty, sex education, menstruation, and other related topics. Providing them with correct knowledge in this manner will help them to resolve their unanswered questions while also encouraging social interaction and developing a trusting relationship with their peers and teachers. School-level health policies should be developed by the school management committee in order to promote and educate students about health and safety issues, to ensure adequate water and sanitation facilities, and to protect female students and staff from bullying and sexual harassment on a daily basis.

HACEY is committed to ensuring that young girls and women are aware of their bodies and understand how to manage their sexual health on a daily basis. For more information, please visit www. hacey.org.

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post Managing Menstrual hygiene appeared first on HACEY.

Menstrual hygiene is an under-discussed topic, especially at the household and community level. In Nigeria, some cultural and religious norms are associated with menstruation, some of which include not allowing menstruating women and girls to partake in certain activities and not permitting them to prepare some kinds of foods.

These norms often encourage the stigmatization of these women and girls directly and indirectly. When girls are on their period, it often hampers their productivity, as some experience pain while some cannot properly manage their menstrual hygiene due to lack of resources.

According to UNICEF and WHO, only 29% of the Nigerian population has access to basic sanitation services. Information on menstrual hygiene management in Nigeria is limited. Menstrual hygiene is a big issue and should be addressed accordingly. Below are highlights of certain problems and recommendations:

Firstly, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) has been identified as a major issue in Nigeria. UNICEF reports that about 26.5% (approximately 50.3 million) of the population use improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities in Nigeria.

A critical tool to promoting menstrual hygiene is by ensuring the availability of clean water at strategic places such as schools, market places and other public domains across urban and rural areas.

Secondly, the cost of purchasing a pack of sanitary pads in Nigeria is relatively high for low-income earners and young dependent women. Due to this reason, some girls prefer to use leaves or rags to manage their period flow.

This, in turn, affects the productivity of these women. Some girls are unable to go to school while some women are unable to carry out their businesses effectively during their menstrual periods. When women are unable to contribute to economic activities for a number of days, it hampers the growth of the economy. Therefore, it is recommended that the government subsidizes the cost of sanitary pads to ensure affordability for all women and girls. Also, sanitary pads should be made available at public places for free.

Thirdly, stigmatization, which is often encouraged through certain cultural norms remains an issue which should be addressed.

Increased public awareness, sensitization, and education at the grassroots level are necessary to improve the knowledge of individuals on myths and norms that segregate women on their menstrual periods. Menstrual hygiene management should also be prioritized to ensure women and girls are effective during their menstrual periods, for improved productivity.

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