Wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola has called on school authorities in the state to key into various advocacy campaigns aimed at achieving good healthy living.
This, she said could be achieved by ensuring that toilet facilities in various schools are kept in clean and hygienic conditions.
The First Lady stated this at a programme marking the year 2021 Menstural Hygiene Day with theme “Stepping up Action for Menstrual Hygiene and Health” held at Apara Memorial High School in Atakumosa West local government area of the state of Osun.
She said the special day is part of the international efforts at tackling the health and social challenges that tend to affect the well-being of girls and women in the society.
She pointed out that girls often face some challenges in proper and hygienic management of the monthly flow; adding that the challenges could range from lack of proper information at the onset of menstruation, lack of access to proper materials such as reusable pads and cloths to soak up the flow and privacy of changing places when the girls are school or public places.
The wife of the Governor who also doubles as the Wash Ambassador in Osun stressed that unhygienic handling of menstural flow in girls could trigger diseases which could negatively impacts school attendance and performance.
She revealed that her NGO and Osun Government have developed a comprehensive campaign on the need to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene in the state saying, one of the expected fruits of the campaign is availability of decent toilets in every home, communities, schools, market and public places.
The Wash Ambassador urged school authorities to do more awareness on water sanitation and hygiene by setting up wash clubs to ensure that school environments are more friendly for academic activities.
She also implored mother’s to refrain from cutting genital parts of girls child because victims of the act tend to experience longer and more painful menstruation than those that were not circumcised.
Speaking, the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Education, Mrs Olaniyan Christiana urged the students not to partake in any forms of hooliganism
She charged them to abide by the school rules and regulations at all time for them to became a great leaders in future.
Earlier, Principal of the school, Mr Osunkile Gabriel appreciated the wife of the Governor for the grace given to the school to benefit from the various health programme of her NGO and Osun Government developmental programmes.
Highlights of the programme was presentation of the sanitary pads to female students of Apara Memorial High school by the wife of the Governor.
