By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A Women-led Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), African HUB for Community Progress Initiative in Nigeria (AfriHUB), in collaboration with Plan International’s ASPIRE Project, have engaged critical stakeholders in a roundtable meeting to discuss prospects of resuscitating existing Secondery School Health Clubs and scaling up same to all the Schools in Bauchi State.
During the roundtable meeting, held on the 23rd October, 2024 at the conference hall of Telwa Hotel, issues around Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) awareness needs, with particular emphasis on menstrual hygiene management for adolescence girls in schools and the communities were also discussed.
Speaking on the objective of the roundtable meeting, Executive Director of AfriHUB, Dr. Saba’atu Elizabeth Danladi said that the main objective of the activity was to discuss and agree on the modalities for incorporating and operationalizing School Health Clubs Manual in secondary schools in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bauchi State, where Plan International is supporting the State under the ASPIRE Project.
The ED said that, implementing the School Health Manual will educate adolescent girls on reproductive health and rights, fostering healthier habits, improved life skills, and better academic performance in a supportive environment, stressing that, “collaboration and collective input will amplify our impact that could usher in a friendly environment for our adolescent girls to thrive and reach their full potentials in life”.
The roundtable meeting, which attracted a wide range of participants that includes both State and none State actors, also featured female Students from Four Secondery Schools who shared their hopes, concerns and aspirations in seeing their respective schools environments having a vibrant health clubs that could serve as a hub for knowledge sharing, especially in their reproductive health rights.
The Students also tabled their request for an effective, efficient and transparent management of their school’s sanitary pads banks so that no girl will miss school due menstrual periods. The students further called for the construction of toilet facilities and other water, sanitation and hygiene needs for enhanced menstrual hygiene management.
There were contributions from participants, cutting across school principals, ward development committee leaders, officials of the Bauchi State Ministries of Education, Health , Women Affairs, Primary Health Care Development Board, other relevant MDAs, CSOs, CBOs, FBOs and the Media.
Our correspondent reports that the roundtable meeting also featured a panel of discussants, proffering solutions to some of the issues highlighted during the meeting.
AfriHUB’s Plan International’s ASPIRE Project is being funded by Global Affairs Canada.