By Danhassan Abubakar
A Bauchi based Civil Society Organisation (CSO), African Hub for Community Project Initiative in Nigeria (AfriHub) under the Global Affairs Canada funded Plan International’s ASPIRE Project has commemorated this year’s International Women’s Day with a call on the Government of Bauchi State to establish Sanitary Pad Incubation Centres in the 3 Sanetorial Zones of the State.
AfriHUB used the day to further call on the Bauchi State Government to take deliberate steps in implementing policies supporting adolescent girls’ reproductive health and education are adequately funded and effectively implemented.
The call was part of AfriHUB’s Executive Director’s (ED) speech delivered today at a stakeholders interface between CSOs and Government on issues around adolescent reproductive health and mentrual hygiene management.
The Executive Director, Dr. Saba’atu Elizabeth Danladi said that Bauchi State Government can attained that level of improved adolescent reproductive health and mentrual hygiene management through the establishment of PAD BANKS INCUBATION CENTERS – to ensure that no girl in Bauchi State misses school due to a lack of menstrual hygiene products.
Other measures proffered by Dr. Danladi include:
- 1- Creation of school health clubs in all schools – where none exist, to ensure that young people have a safe space to learn about their health, well-being, and rights.
- 2- Strengthening of existing health clubs – ensuring their optimal operation through the full implementation of the School Health Club Manual across all schools in Bauchi State. This will enable structured learning on hygiene, menstrual health management, and adolescent reproductive health, and
- 3- Increased Budgetary Allocation to the Ministry of Education and SUBEB – to further strengthen sexual and reproductive health education for adolescent girls and young women. Without adequate funding, the progress we seek remains unattainable.
The Executive Director who also doubles as the founder and technical advisor of AfriHUB expressed her gratitude to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for their support and commitment to promoting the advancement of women in Nigeria, particularly in Bauchi State.
“Your funding and dedication have provided us with the resources to empower adolescent girls, young women, and vulnerable populations, ensuring that they have access to essential health services and education”.
“A special appreciation goes to PLAN International’s ASPIRE Project for its exemplary leadership and technical direction in realizing sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls and young women. Through your efforts, we have witnessed significant progress in addressing critical barriers that hinder girls from accessing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and services”, said Dr. Danladi.
A guest speaker at the event Halima Ibrahim Dimis tasked all attendees of the event to commit to the provision of sanitary pads to adolescent girls in their respective communities.
Dimis, who serves as the Secretary General of a Women led CSO known as High Level Women Advocates (HiLWA), said that everyone has a role play in advocating for policies and initiatives that could advance women’s course in Bauchi State and the Nation at large.
Dimis implored all participants to go beyond verbal commitments saying, “If you and i can purchase just one pack of sanitary pads and give it to an indegent adolescent girl in our communities at least once in a month, it will go a long way in building that girl’s confidence in school and at home”.
There were goodwill messages from relevant state MDAs, CSOs, CBOs, FBOs and the Media.
Part of the activity was the Advocacy Impact Walk carried out by the participants with placards passing messages on breaking barriers and advancing women’s leadership role in nation building.
Our correspondent reports that this year’s IWD has its theme: “Accelerate Action: Reflecting our Commitment to Gender Equality”.