Rotary partners humanitarian organisations to boost support for FCT women, girls

The Rotary District Committee on Maternal and Child Health partners with Vina Daniel’s Foundation and four other Humanitarian organisations to enhance community support for women and girls in the Nyanya community, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through menstrual health and hygiene management.

Founder of the Vina Daniels Foundation and a member of the Rotary Club, Lovina Okorn-Ntui, highlighted the collaborative effort with Rotary International to provide critical healthcare items to nursing and expectant mothers, thereby improving health outcomes within local communities.

Okorn-Ntui stated that there are areas in Abuja where people need support, and they aim to reach underserved communities that reflect diverse religious backgrounds, including both Muslims and Christians.

She explained that the initiative represents the Rotary District Committee on Maternal and Child Health’s first project in the Nyanya Karo area since shifting their focus from other neighbourhoods like Bwari and Kubwa.

“We believe it’s important for young girls to understand menstrual hygiene, health, and self-preparation for the future. However, without proper education, they lack the knowledge to manage these aspects of their lives,” she said.

Okorn-Ntui pointed out persistent challenges such as insufficient access to water, modern healthcare facilities, and menstrual products, urging financial support to sustain these efforts and deliver resources to communities at no cost.

“Many families struggle to afford sanitary pads for their children, making it vital that we provide these essentials,” Okorn explained, adding that each menstrual cup can last up to five years, providing a cost-effective solution.

Additionally, she stressed the environmental concerns associated with disposable products, noting how long it takes for plastics to decompose.

“Through our educational programs, we teach participants proper hygiene practices and how to utilize sanitary pads sustainably.

“We found out that for every sanitary pad you use, one, the nylon you throw in the earth’s surface takes thousands of years before it decomposes. So this is what we do to make sure that we don’t throw a lot of plastic nylon on the earth’s surface.

“So that is why we are teaching how to make use of the pad. The participants were exposed to different hygienic practices and distribution of sanitary products,” she said.

Senior Coordinator of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Mrs. Onyinijechi Nkata, expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club District 9127 for their commitment to maternal and child health.

‘It is so educative. If they take it home and they practise everything that they learnt here, it will be so wonderful because they also taught them how to make pads, sanitary pads. They taught them how to do that.

“So, they can do that for themselves and they can also do that as a survival means of empowerment. So, it is so rich. The project is so rich.

“The items will greatly benefit our community, particularly as we teach participants about sanitary pad production and hygiene practices,” she shared enthusiastically.

Secretary of the District 9127 Committee on Maternal and Child Health, Rotarian Adeleke Ayanronke, reiterated Rotary International’s dedication to improving conditions for nursing mothers and children.

“We distributed essential healthcare items to support girls during their menstrual cycles, which include soaps, towels, and shaving sticks. We even introduced menstrual cups for those interested, offering a solution to period poverty that can last up to five years,” she said.

Ayanronke expressed her satisfaction at seeing the participants empowered with knowledge that few had access to in previous generations, hoping that their learnings would serve them well in the future.

Encouraging the beneficiaries to use the provided items responsibly, Rotarian Rabi Mohamed, President of Presidents in the FCT, declared, “This initiative is just one facet of Rotary International’s commitment to enhancing community living conditions through support and education.”

With reusable sanitary products in high demand, he added, “Providing these resources is essential, as they can significantly improve menstrual management for many young women.”