Edo First Lady Pushes For Improved Hygiene Education For Girl Child At Grassroots

The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has emphasized the importance of hygienic sensitization for the girl-child at the grassroots.

This advocacy was made during a meeting with representatives from the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Edo State, led by their president, Dr. Irene Akhideno, at the Office of the First Lady, Government House, Benin City.

Mrs. Anani expressed her appreciation for the delegation’s visit and their contributions to the well-being of the society. ‘I want to appreciate you for coming. The medical sector is part of our system and if you don’t have healthy people, you actually don’t have a state or a nation.’

While acknowledging their concerns for the girl-child and violated women, Mrs. Anani said, ‘When we are talking about women that are violated, we don’t just want to talk about giving them starter packs. We want to disabuse their minds and counsel them from whatever experience they have had.’

She further highlighted the importance of reaching out to girls in rural areas. ‘I tell people, no matter how civilized you think you are, there are still girls who have never seen a sanitary pad. They are still used to the conventional way of rags. Most importantly, we want to tell them the hygienic part of it. Bath well, dress well. We want to prevent some illnesses from this age.’

Dr. Irene Akhideno, the leader of the delegation, emphasized the role of the Association as a non-governmental organization, in promoting health. ‘We are an NGO, but we all have our different primary assignments where we work, either in the State, Federal, or private practice. But we all know that the health of the country cannot be the job of only the Government alone.’

She also added that ‘The Medical Women Association of Nigeria has been actively involved in promoting menstrual hygiene and celebrating the boy child. ‘We do a lot of outreach. We also do menstrual hygiene week. Last year we gave over 1000 menstrual hygiene kits.’

“We are also involved and we celebrate the boy child. So we go to schools during the days of the boy-child, we talk to them and get our colleagues because we know that these boys need role models.”

The meeting was concluded with the presentation of a gift to the First Lady, who promised to collaborate with the association in promoting programmes that help better the life of the girl-child.