The wife of the Osun State Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, has called school authorities across state to get involved in various advocacy campaigns aimed at achieving healthy living especially those that centre on ensuring toilet facilities in the schools are kept in clean and hygienic condition.
Mrs Oyetola stated this during a programme to mark the 2021 Menstrual Hygiene Day with the theme, ‘Stepping up Action for Menstrual Hygiene and Health’.
AMILOADED reports that the event was held at Apara Memorial High School in Atakumosa West Local Government Area of Osun State.
Speaking, the Osun First Lady highlighted the significance of the day as one of the global efforts at fighting health and social challenges affecting the well-being of girls and women in the society.
Pointing out that girls often face many challenges in proper and hygienic management of their monthly flows, Mrs Oyetola identified some of the medically identified health hazards to include lack of proper information at the onset of menstrual flows, lack of access to proper materials such as reusable pads, and clothes to soak up the menstrual flows.
According to her, the factors could trigger different diseases in the affected girl or woman as the case may be while menstruating.
Mrs Oyetola, who is also the state W.A.S.H Ambassador, reaffirmed the commitment and determination of her NGO, IleriIOluwa Development Initiatives, not to leave any stone unturned in putting in place comprehensive campaigns on the need to improve access to water, sanitation and hygienic life style in Osun State.
The Osun First Lady further expressed displeasure over the age old practice of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting in the state.
She, therefore, charged mothers to refrain from subjecting an average girl-child to such ‘unhealthy and harmful health practise’ which she said had sent many victims to their untimely graves.
Speaking during the programme, the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Education, Mrs Olaniyan Christiana, urged students in Osun State to refrain from any unwholesome act capable of jeopardizing their different ambition in life.
Mrs Olaniyan described education as a priceless meal ticket which should not be mortgaged.
Earlier in his welcome address of the principal of Apara Memorial High school, Mr Osunkile Gabriel appreciated the wife of the governor for the opportunity given to the school to benefit from the various health programmes of IleriIOluwa Development Initiatives and the Osun State Government.
Mrs Oyetola thereafter distributed sanitary pads to the female students of the school to round up the campaign targeted at marking the 2021 Menstrual Hygiene Day being celebrated globally on Friday.
See photos below:
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