Annually, the World Menstrual Hygiene Day (WMHD) is marked on the 28th of May all over the world. The theme for this year’s WMHD is “Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030”, while using the hashtag #WeAreCommitted. This theme was set to compensate for the progresses and draw backs women and girls have had over the years, towards ensuring that menstruation is a norm and no one is hindered by its occurrence in the nearest future.
In commemoration of the World Menstrual hygiene Day 2022, many organisations around the globe joined in taking action and showing commitment through various outreaches to girls and stakeholders in schools and communities. One of such prominent organisations in Nigeria is the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), whose different branches across the states of the nation carried out one or more activities to commemorate the day.
Up north, in the western region, our MWAN Kaduna team commemorated the day at the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), Hayin Dogo, Zaria and Government Girl Secondary School (GGSS) Maimuna Gwarzo, Kaduna; where up to 500 women and girls were educated about menstrual health and empowered with items needed to ensure menstrual hygiene.
In the north central geopolitical zone of the country, MWAN-FCT supported the “end period-poverty” movement amongst young girls and women in remote areas of Abuja by; free distribution of sanitary pads and pamphlet on menstrual health, holding talk on menstruation, menstrual hygiene, unhygienic menstrual practices, myths and taboos. As well as a talk on “adolescents as future leaders” with Pre and post seminar assessments, questions and answers session.
Similarly, MWAN Benue State celebrated this day by “padding” about 500 girls (i.e., distributing free pads to them) across 2 schools – namely; Agwan Jukun community UBE School, North bank and Golden College, Yagba North bank – and a community with funding donated by well-meaning individuals. Asides getting sanitary pads, the girls in the community also received their fourth dose of TT (Tetanus Toxoid Vaccination) courtesy MWAN Benue, as an extension of their long existing ongoing program.
During the outreaches at the different schools, data was collated on the girls’ knowledge of menstruation and Menstrual hygiene, after which a Menstruation and hygiene awareness presentation was done by one of the MWAN Doctors, with their Menstrual hygiene laboratory demonstration. The students were also taught to make reusable pads, menstrual hygiene management, taking pride about their menstruation because it is normal and to report any case of sexual harassment or exploitation.
Boys were not left out of this knowledge acquisition as they were also in attendance and encouraged to support their sisters and not mock them when stained during menstruation, likewise teachers. Question and answer session was taken by the MWAN Benue president, Dr Tongraing Ben-Ameh and other MWAN Benue members present. Other partners present were the representatives of Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) – led by Ameh Samuel, NiMSA North central chairman from Benue State University – and Benue TV.
Likewise, in the southern region, aside from media and social awareness, a lot was done by different states to provide menstrual hygiene by donating sanitary pads and other items to underserved girls and women in various marginalized communities e.g. the #PadAFemaleInmate World Menstrual Hygiene Day Outreach to the Nigerian Correctional Service, Enugu Custodial Centre (Enugu Prisons) by the MWAN Enugu team and the massive school outreaches to rural communities in Anambra, semi-urban and urban communities in Abia, Aba, Oyo, Lagos and other states by their different MWAN Executive teams.
Editor’s note:
This article was collated from contributions by Dr. Faeren Cynthia Atsehe (Medical Mirror Correspondent, MWAN Benue) and extract from the WMHD 2022 activities report on the MWAN Young Doctors Forum (YDF) COORDINATOR 2021-2023 Biennium platform.
Acknowledgments: Dr Nasir Marufah Dupe – MWAN Kaduna, Dr Akwaras, Dr Doofan Ayatse, Dr Grace Rimmanuhra – MWAN Benue, Dr. Stephanie Okonkwo (YDF Coordinator MWAN Anambra), Dr Chinazom Ekwueme (YDF Coordinator MWAN Enugu), Dr Okonkwo Stephanie (YDF Coordinator MWAN Anambra), Dr. Izuagba Kelechi (YDF Coordinator MWAN FCT), Dr. Joy Okechukwu (YDF Coordinator MWAN Abia), Dr. Agoyi Mary (YDF Coordinator MWAN Lagos) and Dr. Taiwo-Ola Dorcas (MWAN National YDF Coordinator).
