By Edward Vamboi
In commemoration of the Day of the African Child, Dija’s Foundation- Sierra Leone, a non- profitable and non- governmental organization that is raising awareness on and denouncing Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), on the 16th June, 2021, donated free sanitary pads and toiletries to one hundred teenage girls and women living with disabilities within the Kambia District.
According to the Executive Director of Dija’s Foundation- Sierra Leone, Khadijatu Bah, Menstrual Hygiene Day is recognized worldwide on May 28 and was first launched by advocates in 2014 to highlight the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Management and Education that empower women and girls to fully participate in society and live healthy, safe-determined life.
She said millions of girls are denied the right to manage their monthly menstrual cycle in a dignified and healthy way adding how poor menstrual hygiene management restricts the mobility, freedom and choice of young women and girls everywhere.
Khadijatu Bah disclosed that they are using the opportunity of the commemoration to teach and talk to young girls about Menstrual Hygiene, Sex Education and Sexual, Gender Base Violence (SGBV) . She also highlighted that the donation was done to three school schools respectively, namely Linda Koroma Girls School, Kolenten Secondary School and Sunday Foundation Girls High School.
Khadijatu also motivated the disable women by telling them that they can be better people just like normal people highlighting how disability is not inability.
She added that it is essential for girls to love but admonished them to do what they think is right to abstain from sex until they attain age eighteen.
The Executive Director disclosed that they distributed the items to twenty five young disable women and seventy five school going girls.
Sawantu Fatu, the Gender Officer of Dija’s Foundation-Sierra Leone intimated that they provided sanitary pads and toiletries to one hundred women and girls in Kambia District for effective menstrual hygiene management for an initial three months period.
She revealed their plan to engage adolescent boys and teachers through a dialogue forum to pass on relevant information and address myths and misconceptions geared towards reducing the stigma associated with menstrual hygiene with the aim of increasing girls’ attendance in school.
Sawantu Fatu pointed out that one of the underlying reasons why menstrual hygiene has been neglected is as a result of gender inequality that results in the voices of women and girls not been heard in decision making processes.
She said women and girls face multiple challenges which serve as barriers against promoting menstrual hygiene management (MHM) maintaining that it is important to step forward towards safeguarding the dignity and overall life opportunities of women and girls.
