UYO
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, a non-profit international organization, has marked this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) in Akwa Ibom with the education of girls on menstrual hygiene for healthy living and the the preservation of their rights.
The celebration which took place at the Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, Uyo recently, witnessed the sensitisation of female students drawn from various schools on the “Girls Rights,” menstrual cyle management and the presentation of sanitary pads and other gifts to the participants.
Mr Steve Aborisade, advocacy manager, AHF Nigeria, said the day is celebrated every October 11, and the organization through its strategic partnership has been joining the rest of the world to mark the event to give girls a sense of belonging.
AHF, according to him, ” scales up access to HIV services with free quality therapy, treatment and care support for the People Living With HIV/AIDS(PLWHIV)., gives priority to women and girls programmes giving them access to healthcare and empowerment.”
He observed that girls suffer nefarious discrimination, gender-inequality, deprivation and other forms of abuses which negatively impact on their well-being, adding that the organization is complementing the government to eliminate these unwholesome acts against the aspiration and the dreams of the girl child.
Aborisade noted that the organization deemed it necessary to celebrate the girl child and give them direction on how best to work towards securing their tomorrow for self esteem and reliance.
He stated plans by the AHF to collaborate with the Akwa Ibomgovernment to establish a sanitary pad bank as a measure to improve menstrual hygiene among girls in the state.
Corroborating, the state coordinator of AHF, Dr EkeminiEssien, noted that celebrating the girl child was imperative because germane to family, community and societal development when nurtured.
The commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Dr IniAdiakpan ,who described the organization”s choosing of AkwaIbom for the celebration as heart-warming , said their policy was in line with the vision of the Governor Umo Eno to develop and empower the girl child as well as women.
Adiakpan hinted that the state government in a bold step to protect the rights of the girl child enacted the Child Rights Law, stressing that the law is all embracing, providing the needed conducive environment for the girl child to thrive and penalty meted out to perpetrators of abuses against them.
Besides, she maintained that the free and compulsory education of the state government gives the girl child the opportunity to access primary and secondary education and called on parents to encourage their children to embrace education to make them invulnerable to abuses.
She assured the organization of the government’s commitment to provide a favorable environment for them and other implementing partners to execute their programmes in the state.
She urged girls to leverage on their content, take their studies seriously and be conscious of their sexual and reproductive health “such that they can be women whose voice can be heard and respected in the future.”
Reflecting on the maxim,” Amplify Her Voice,” the commissioner charged girls to speak against those ills perpetuated on them such as gender-based violence, sexual abuse and child trafficking, child labour and prostitution, among others.
She also advised girls to obey their parents, be guided by morals and guard against peer group influence as they grow up.
The commissioner for information and strategy, Mr IniEmemobong, who extolled AHF for packing the event in honourof girls in the state, emphasized the need for girls to realize their rights and protect same by resonating to be heard and accord the necessary rights in the society.
Represented by the director of Archives in the ministry, Eunice Egharevba, he stated the commitment of his ministry to amplify the rights of the girl child for their future greatness.
A guest speaker, Mrs Mfon Akpan who spoke on the topic:Overview of Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Menstrual Health Management, reminded girls that changing of sanitary pads and proper washing of genitals was a routine
Akpan, a nurse, also advised girls to monitor their menstrual cycle in case of irregularity or strange development so as to take appropriate medical action.
Responding on behalf of the students, Miss Divine- FavourAmadi, a senior secondary three student, Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, Uyo, appreciated the AHF and the state government for collaborating to impact on their well-being and assured that they will reciprocate the gesture by being studies and mindful of the sexual health as well as the environment so as to realize their dreams.
Goodwill messages were presented by representatives of Excellence Community Education and Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) and Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCCRN) and the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS(UNAIDS).
The theme of the celebration is: Invest In Girls Rights: Our Leaders And Well-being.
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