UNICEF improves menstral hygiene through G4G initiative in Northern Nigeria

Menstral cycle simply puts occurs when the body attains puberty, things start to change varying from person to person. It can start as early as 10 or as late as 16 depending on the individual.

Menstrual cycle can also affect mood, level of energy, and level of hygiene and could be shorter or longer. On the first day of menstruation, some girls might experience menstrual cramps during the first days of the periods as it is when the uterus lining breaks down and sheds to begin menstruation.

Worried the level of enrolment and retention of girls till completion of primary education in Northern Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has engaged 450 members of mothers’ associations out of a total of capacity of  3,536  members of Mothers Associations enhanced on strategies for increased enrolment and retention in 300 school communities in the production of reusable sanitary towels for adolescent girl members of G4G groups under the Girls for Girls initiative to help improve menstrual hygiene.

The G4G initiative is one of the key strategies of actualizing the Girls Education Project (GEP) Phase3 being implemented in Northern Nigeria by UNICEF to increase the level of enrolment and retention of girls in schools to complete primary education with Bauchi, Katsina, and Zamfara States as pilot states .

The G4G concept employs the use of a four way channel; SUBEB, Community Structures (Mothers association), Civil Society (life helpers) and HILWA (high level women association) to execute the g4g project.

Having realized that girls menstrual hygiene is very paramount to help retain girls in schools, the UNICEF came up with the Girl for Girl initiative which is believe will unlock the full potential of the girl child even while on her menstrual cycle to ensure are being regular at school till primary 6.

In the process of execution of G4G, clusters are of between 15-25 girls membership of  is formed with 1-3 groups established in each schools , focusing on their interests in education,  life , skills, and health, and each schools has three mentors comprising of female teachers where available and members of mothers association.

Speaking on improved menstrual hygiene, 14 years old Fatima Mohammed in class 6 of Tundu-wada Model Primary School, Tsakuwa in Talata Marafa local Government area of Zamfara state said “G4G has helped improve my personal hygiene. I was taught how to take care of myself during menstruation and even when I am not menstruating.

 

“I have my bath thrice times daily during my period, and at each interval I change my hand made pad. I wash each pad after use, and put it under the sun to kill germs and prevent infection.

“After my menstruation, I put all the pads together and keep them for my next menstruation. My G4G mentors and teachers told me the importance of good hygiene.

‘G4G programme has taught me how to make pad and use during our menstruation. During our training, we were given materials to make three pads each. And after then, we make pads ourselves,”

G4G has also improved my zeal for education. I have some friends that are not in school and are not even interested in going to school. I am still encouraging them to take this G4G opportunity as a stepping stone, said Fatima

Zarau Aliyu, the G4G programme officer, Zamfara state said the reusable pad was introduced to the women and girls as part of the G4G initiative.

She said “Before the G4G initiative was implemented in Zamfara state, our people here who cannot afford the sanitary pad uses any rag during their monthly menstruation. UNICEF taught us how to produce the pad we now use to make it look like a normal sanitary pad.

“They can wash it after each use, spread it under the sun and keep it in a neat spot till the next use.

“The health process for proper menstrual hygiene for the purpose of retention of girls due to staying off schools during menstrual period also led to the training of girls who are members of g4g and women from mothers association across the local governments where GEP is taking place on clean menstrual hygine and production of reusable sanitary pads which made the girls to be more confident of themselves during their period.

Talatu Jibrin, a G4G mentor and a teacher in Tundu-wada model primary school, Tsakuwa said the programme has improved her knowledge as a teacher and a mentor said “There are some things I do not know even as a teacher, but when G4G was introduced, they trained us and taught us a lot of things that has changed our lives.

“After we were trained, it was not quite easy convincing the girls to partake in the G4G programme but now they are all happy they are part of it. We have all benefited one or two things from this programme. We are grateful to UNICEF and other partners directly and indirectly involve in making this a success.

In zamfara state, 100 local women from mothers association across many communities of selected GEP LGA with some knowledge in sewing were selected and taught the skills of making reusable sanitary pads, which is very friendly, cheap and affordable.

Startup kits were provided for the women so that the pads can be made available to many girls in a the communities in a sustainable manner

Some of the girls which may have not seen always sanitary pads before now have what meets their needs.

The mothers said they are supporting their girls at the community level so that the challenges of not going to school during their menstrual period is overcome with their dignity restored.

Some members of the mothers association noted that even though they didn’t have the time and opportunity to go to school, their daughters will with the support of G4G of UNICEF.