Wunmi Semudara
As part of the commemoration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, women with extreme menstruation challenges have been advised to seek medical care, as it can lead to fibroid growth.
A group of Water Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH) advocate created awareness of the importance of menstrual hygiene in the Federal Capital Territory.
The CEO of Citizens Participation Advancement and Awareness Initiative, Mrs Funmi Olorunmola, stated this during a community sensitization to mark the Year 2023 World Menstrual Hygiene Day in Abuja.
The WASH advocate recounted some health challenges, residents of communities experience due to a lack of necessary amenities during their menstrual cycle.
“Menstruation is an important issue, especially for girls and women. When a woman does not experience menstruation, she may have issues with giving birth. Ladies need to practice good hygiene during menstruation.
“Some women are exposed to infection due to using unhygienic materials during their menstrual cycle. Ladies should take proper care of what they use during menstruation.
“In our communities, most people use a rag, and when they use it, most of them do not sun dry it very well and becomes damp. The use of unhygienic materials may lead to infection, and this may lead to infertility after some years”, she added.
She said promoting and advancing the general well-being of the women in the rural community is very critical to national development.
The CEO called on the government to take into serious consideration, the provision of social amenities to rural areas.
According to her, this would help curb infection and diseases among women.
Olorunmola further called on the government to provide basic amenities such as portable water, that will make life easy for the entire family and the community as a whole.
“The residents of Kpanyi village are going through a lot in terms of basic amenities. They do not have access to electricity and potable water. When most of the residents consume the river water, they tend to see blood.
” We are here to create awareness regarding menstrual hygiene. We also advised them to boil water and add salt before drinking the water. We want the government to provide portable. water to the residents”, she added.
The Program Coordinator, for Forum Foundation for Women Empowerment and Environmental and Initiative, Mrs Ruth During, noted that, lack of proper hygiene during menstruation could lead to infections, absenteeism from school, and work, and social stigma.
“We are all women, but we all have a different flow and different days for Menstruation. Some menstruate for two, three, four, five, or seven days, which is extreme, and some for nine days.
” Sometimes most of the people that menstruate between seven and nine days always complain about severe abdominal pain. They usually experience vomiting, it comes with rolling on the ground, heavy dizziness and fatigue.
“Doctors usually advise women that experience such severe pain to seek medical help, because such occurrence may lead to fibroid or infertility issues.
We usually inform women to seek professional counsel rather than going over the counter for medication”, she said.
She further hinted at the need to maintain cleanliness during menstruation.
A resident of the community, Memuna Moses, said previously she normally use detergent to wash her vagina.
” Am happy I attended the sensitization program. I have learnt that it is not good to wash the vagina with unhygienic materials, it can lead to infection and diseases.
Another community dweller, Rosie Emmanuel, said she will stop throwing her used sanitary pad into the river.
“The river is our only source of water. I will stop my friends from throwing their pads as well into the river. Since we are all aware of. the consequences, we will preserve the river”, she said.
The women in the community commended the organizers and promised to practice good hygiene practices.
The highlights of the event include; the distribution of sanitary pads, Fidvite Multivitamin Syrup for children aged 1-12 years, and other baby items, such as (Clothing, shoes, pampers and toys) to pregnant women and girls.
