Sierra Leonean born and US based medical student, Khadijah Kamara last week empowered school going girls in four government schools in the Western Area namely: Government Model Secondary School, E B Williams Municipal School, Dr. S M Broderick Municipal School and the Fatarahman Municipal School, with lectures on reproductive care and distributed sanitary pads to them.
In an exclusive interview with this writer, Khadija Kamara said that her aim is to see that the girl child is always in school, adding that menstruation should not keep them away from classes. This monthly experience by all women of child bearing age is not a bad even in their lives, but rather is an indication that they are healthy and can produce children.
She encouraged the girls to handle the sanitary pads with care, intimating that the supply will last them for 4 years and also save them money, which would otherwise have been ploughed into the purchase of those items. She further warned them against sharing these items with family members in their respective homes.
Madam Khadija Kamara further disclosed that she has been engaged in this venture in other schools, especially among deprived communities like the Kroo Bay. There she provided school going materials, sanitary pads and other items.
On the need for the education of the girl child, Madam Kamara pointed out that if a girl is educated she will help to bring change to her community. She stressed the importance of girls to know how to ake care of themselves. She expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health and school authorities for the assistance given to her in the distribution of the items and warned the girls to avoid sex and concentrate on their school work.
