BY GLORIA OSEMUDIAMHEN
BENIN CITY – As part of activities commemorating World Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Office of the First Lady of Edo State, led by Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, embarked on a sensitization visit to Imaguero College, along Sapele Road, Benin City to educate female students on proper menstrual hygiene and means to combat menstrual stigma.
The awareness campaign, which featured interactive sessions and the distribution of sanitary pads, aimed to empower young girls to manage their menstrual health with confidence and dignity.
Representing Mrs. Anani, the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Nimata Umar Ikhilor, delivered a message underscoring menstruation as a matter of health, dignity, and human rights.
“Effective menstrual hygiene helps prevent infections and ensures young girls can manage their cycles without shame,” she said.
Mrs. Anani’s further called on members of the society to “break the silence, dispel myths, and eliminate taboos” surrounding menstruation.
She urged all stakeholders, including parents, teachers and policymakers to support menstrual hygiene education, adding that the goal was to normalise menstruation across Edo State by 2030.
Hon. Charity Osifo, representing Edo South Senatorial District on the State Secondary Education Board, encouraged the students to embrace womanhood with confidence, linking hygiene to health and empowerment.
The programme also featured lectures from healthcare professionals and was met with enthusiasm from the students, who described the outreach and pad distribution as an important boost to their confidence and education
