A Non-governmental Organization, Gracious Foundation, is seeking stronger partnership with governments, donor agencies and well spirited individuals in addressing issues of poor hygiene as well as make sanitary pads more available to teenage girls in rural communities.
The Founder of the NGO, Miss
Amarachi Ukonu, made the appeal while distributing free sanitary pads to 96 teenage girls from Ndi Uduma Awoke community of Abia state.
She said a research conducted by her team and other concern organizations shows that about 80 percent of adolescent girls in rural and semi-urban areas use rags and tissue papers during menstruation, due to high cost of sanitary pads and lack of awareness of their health implication.
According to Miss Ukonu, “This finding is to say the least most pathetic and unaccepted in this age. We must all come together to address this abnormalities,
so as to protect the young ones associated with such un healthy practices.”
The event witnessed sensitization lectures on different areas ranging from, menstrual cycle, menstrual hygiene and everything a girl going through puberty should know concerning her developing body.
The seminar which harped on the consequences of engaging in early sexual intimacy/unprotected sex, also stressed on how unwholesome practices could lead to unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, amongst others.
Founder of the Gracious Foundation and the lead organizer of the Pad a Girl Child Outreach, Miss Amarachi Ukonu reeled out the vision and mission of the foundation to include, reaching out to vulnerable children and the youth in rural and semi-urban areas with the gospel of Christ, health awareness, educational empowerment, food provision, poverty alleviation, skill acquisition.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Miracle Ochu who expressed gratitude to the organization for the gift and exposure, added that the seminar was an eye opener.
Another beneficiary, Miss Joy Awa, also expressed her unreserved joy as she lauded the effort of the founder and her team for the sensitization and exposure.
