The wife of Bauchi State governor, Aisha Mohammed, on Monday began distributing 10,000 disposable sanitary pads to adolescent girls across the state.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mrs Mohammed said the intervention was under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
According to her, it aims to promote the dignity, health, and continuous education of girls across the state.
Mrs Mohammed said 3,000 sanitary pads would be distributed to schoolgirls in the Bauchi metropolis, while the remaining 7,000 would be sent to other local government areas.
She explained that the gesture underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring that no girl in the state was disadvantaged due to a lack of access to basic menstrual hygiene materials.
“The initiative is aimed at promoting the dignity, health, and continuous education of girls across the state,” she said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Lawan Zayam, said the intervention would help address the problem of girls missing school during their menstrual cycle.
He added that the ministry remained committed to promoting menstrual hygiene in schools and to supporting adolescent girls in achieving their full potential.
Also speaking, Zuwaira Baba, gender desk officer at the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, demonstrated the proper use of different menstrual products and emphasised the importance of personal hygiene.
“We have different types of menstrual products, including disposable and reusable pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. It is important for girls to maintain proper hygiene at all times,” she said.
No fewer than 20 schools from the Bauchi metropolis will benefit from the intervention.
(NAN)