Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Chairman Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, has constituted a committee to socialise girls and women in the state on ways to recycle sanitary pads amid the rising prices of the menstrual hygiene facility.
The Chairman stated this on Tuesday while interacting with officials of Plan International in Bauchi.
He said that the scarcity of pads which resulted in its unavoidable inflation, become luxury stuff beyond the reach of most girls and women especially those living in rural communities, a development that forced them to use unhygienic rags to manage their periods thereby exposing them to health hazards.
“We are going to see to the possibility of re-using sanitary pads because most of these females or their parents and guardians cannot afford its constant supply.
“We are going to train the people in our communities how to wash it, iron it and re-use it”, he said.
Dr Rilwanu said that the committee will be meeting every three months to assess the level of progress in line with the set objectives of the committee.
He explained that the committee targets to reach 90,000 beneficiaries including schools and out of school girls and women.
Imam Ahmad Baban Inna, Chief of Imam of Bauchi who was represented by Khalifa Khadi, said that contrary to the misconception making rounds in the society, menstruation is not a sickness adding that they will continue to educate girls and women on the best ways to manage themselves during menstruation period.
Earlier, Mr Afolabi Ahmed Shola, facilitator of the Menstrual Hygiene Management Plan International, a Kimberly Clark Corporation (KCC) funded project in the state, explained that parts of the roles of the steering committee to review action plans to meet core objectives.
“The main objectives of the project are to increase access to women and girls, men and boys Menstrual Hygiene Management knowledge and education using safe traditional and innovative communication mechanisms,” he said.
