The Imo State Chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ has embarked on a sensitization visit to Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, to educate the students on need to know and maintain a healthy hygiene during their menstrual cycle.
They also distributed pads to the students.
This took place on Thursday, June 5, 2025, as the members led by its Chairperson, Dr. Dorothy Nnaji, JP visited the Nwaeruru Mbakwe Comprehensive Secondary School Umuihi, and Okata Comprehensive Secondary School in the LGA, to mark the 2025 Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The members of the association firstly paid homage the office of the Executive Chairman of the LGA, Prince Obioha Ndukwe, to inform him of the purpose of their visit.
In response, the Chairman welcomed and applauded the association for thinking it wise to sensitize the students on such pertinent matter, which he said is the very essence and proof of womanhood.
He urged them to keep up the good work, and called on them not to relent in beckoning on him whenever the association needs any form of assistance in carrying out such programme.
The Chairman also financially supported the association in carrying out the sensitization.
Getting to the first school, Nwaeruru Mbakwe Comprehensive Secondary School Umuihi, the NAWOJ Chairperson who is a native of Ihitte Uboma, averred, “We’ve been going to other schools to meet our girl child to observe the Menstrual Hygiene Day, but this time, I said let me bring it home, so my people will also benefit from it,’ Nnaji stated’.
She made them understand why Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed every May 28, saying that it is because the normal cycle is 28 day, while May which is the 5th month in a year, signifies the 5 days the flow takes before it stops.
She further explained to the students that menstruation is something that is natural and not an impediment or something to become ashamed of.
Nnaji continued that it is one of the things that identifies one as a woman, and a stage to indicate that a girl child is moving into adulthood, adding that they should not hide it from their mothers ones they begin seeing it, and that they should also discuss with them or their female teachers whatever challenges they might experience in the course of it.
The NAWOJ Chairperson also cautioned the students that they should refrain from having sexual intercourse as it could lead to early pregnancy that can affect their future, tarnish their image, and that of their families.
She continued that not abstaining from sex could also led such a person into contracting sexually transmitted diseases like: HIV, among others.
Also speaking was an Environmental Health officer in the LGA, Elenwune Chibuzor who reiterated all that the NAWOJ Chairperson has said, and advised the student to always Keep themselves clean by taking their bath regularly, ensuring that they use just water without soap to properly wash their vagina.
Elenwune further admonished them to also endeavor to change their pads by using 2 or 3 of it in a day whenever they are seeing their period so as to avoid getting infected.
The same message was given to the students of Okata Comprehensive Secondary School
Responding on behalf of the principal, staff and students of Okata Comprehensive Secondary School, was one of the teachers, Nnabuife Prisca Adaku, who expressed their profound gratitude to the association for the visit.
She prayed that God will bless them for thinking it wise to embark on the sensitization, and urged them to keep up the good work.
The high point of the outing was the distribution of Pads to all the students
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