After an investigative story published by BONews Service on lack of access to sanitary products among school girls with disabilities, the BO Foundation for Inclusive Media (BOFIM) has distributed sanitary products to school girls with disabilities at Sango Junior Inclusive Schools, Agege, Lagos, Nigeria.
The pad distribution will help to address the challenges of school dropout among girls with disabilities often caused as a result of limited access to sanitary products.
The event aimed at providing sanitary products for up to three months to school girls with disabilities to reduce the prevalence of skipping schools during their menstruation and to promote menstrual health and inclusivity.
While addressing the students during the pad distribution exercise, Blessing Oladunjoye, the Founder and Executive Director of BOFIM shared that she was inspired to embark on the exercise following her investigative story which documented the challenges that school girls with disabilities encounter to access sanitary pads for their menstruation.
Oladunjoye said “I was here earlier in the year to do a story on access to sanitary products among school girls with disabilities, and some of you shared how difficult it is to access sanitary products and how some of you rely on unhygienic sanitary products.
“This initiative is a way of giving back to the community and taking little steps to address the gaps that have been identified. With these supplies, it is believed that you can conveniently use hygienic sanitary products for the next three months and can concentrate on your academics,” she added.
Oladunjoye also noted that the sanitary products that have been distributed will help to increase the retention of school girls with disabilities in schools.
“We know the challenges that persons with disabilities encounter to access education in the first instance. For those who are already enrolled in school, lack of access to sanitary products should not be the reason why they would drop out of school,” she added.
Emphasizing the importance of menstrual health as a basic right and a critical aspect of well-being, Oladunjoye said “Sanitary products are essential for women of reproductive age. If students with disabilities lack access to them, it is important to address this gap. This gesture is to help them stay healthy, comfortable and focused on their academics.
“Every girl, regardless of her disability, deserves dignity and access to essential hygiene products. We are here to support and remind you that your voice, presence and education matter in society,” she added.
Mr Abdulghaniyu Lawal, one of the teachers in the school who spoke on behalf of the Principal appreciated the BOFIM team and stressed that the initiative would help to enhance access to education for school girls with disabilities.
Mr Lawal said “on behalf of the management, I express our profound gratitude to BO Foundation for Inclusive Media for this kind gesture to ensure our girls can stay in school during their periods and focus on learning without undue stress. We hope this will not be the last”,
Another Teacher and a sign language interpreter in the school, Ms. Lydia Ojo, echoed same sentiments as Lawal, she highlighted the dual importance of the initiative: providing much-needed support for the girls and easing the financial strain on their families.
“Our children are seriously in need of this support. This will reduce their parents’ financial stress and ensure the girls do not miss school due to menstrual challenges. We are grateful for this initiative and hope to see more of such efforts”, Ojo expressed.
Three-month supply of sanitary pads was distributed to the school girls in attendance while some were kept in the sick bay such that any girl who required sanitary products while in school could easily access them.