Anambra Governor’s wife and founder of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, Mrs Nonye Soludo has launched healthy living sanitary pad banks in over four hundred secondary schools in Anambra State where the healthy living school clubs are currently operating.

 

The Governor’s wife made the announcement when she hosted female secondary school students at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia at an event to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.

 

According to Mrs Soludo, the essence of the pad banks is to aid menstrual hygiene in schools and to attend to menstrual emergencies among female students in their reproductive age brackets.

 

She said that considering the high number of women and girls, especially those living in rural areas, who lack access to basic menstrual hygiene needs, the pad banks will break stigmas, protect girl child integrity and ensure that every school girl in Anambra State attains her dreams without having to worry about what happens next.

 

Mrs Soludo further explained that Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo is committed to promoting the fundamental objectives of right health, noting that every girl child in her menstrual age attending a school where the pad banks are, can equally access them.

 

One of the resource persons at the event, Dr Tonia Mbagwu who spoke on girl child rights and sexuality, explained that sexuality is basically about a child’s identity and the way the children feel about their developing body.

 

She stated that it is important for the society to change certain views about women, including giving the girl child equal rights with their male counterparts across social, cultural and economic opportunities.

 

For Miss Adaora Soludo who talked on girl child life skill training, noted that good communication and speaking up more about challenges can help girls relate more with people around them and understand environments better.

 

She said that girls must invest in self-belief, make smarter choices and use the power of their brain more, stressing that with the right skills and support every girl will reach the peak of her dreams.

 

Another speaker, the Special Adviser to the Governor Soludo on Innovation and Business Incubation, Ms Chinwe Okoli, talked about digital skills and innovative carers.

 

The Governor’s wife also presented sanitary pads to over two hundred female students and teachers who attended the event, while representatives of each school got packs of the product to start off their pad banks.

 

The Chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Dr Vera Nwadinobi, her Post Primary Schools Service Commission, PPSSC counterpart, Professor Nkechi Ikediugwu, also attended the event.