In commemoration of the International Menstrual Day 2024, Member representing Oshodi-Isolo, Constituency II, Lagos State at Federal House of Representatives, Hon Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and founder HOJ Foundation has distributed sanitary pads to female students at Ansarudeen College, Isolo; Jeed Trinity College Ilasamaja; and Livingspring Hi-Grade College, all in his constituency.
With the theme, ‘PAD- UP-OUR-GIRLS,’ the campaign was a memorable one as the commemoration was packed with instructive lectures, road walks and sharing of Souvenirs for the young girls, courtesy the Foundation of HOJ Foundation.
The two-day celebration saw members of the HOJ foundation, journalists and scholars on some streets in Lagos giving sensitization talks and demonstrations to young girls on how to use the sanitary towels.
The fun-filled display and sharing of sanitary towels excited the future-ladies that so many questions were generated and answers provided by the team of social education scholars at the various lecture venues.
According to comrade Bolaji Bajode, who is the chairperson of HOJ foundation on Menstrual Health Education, “Several taboos are being peddled about womanhood and menstruation cycle that adolescent school girls need to be properly informed.
“Celebrating the menstrual day is an international event designed to eradicate some of the taboos and stigmas often associated with women and their sanitary towels,” she maintained.
The young girls seized the occasion to call on all strata of government to do something fast about the exorbitant cost of sanitary towels.
They told journalists that many households could not afford sanitary towels for their beginner-girls experiencing menstruation for the first time. “We want the government to do something urgently to reduce the cost of everything generally, but as for us, if they truly care about us, they should subsidize the cost of our sanitary pads and other necessities,” they implored.