An educator, Cariyat Yusuf, has called on parents to instill confidence in their daughters by teaching them proper menstrual hygiene management.

Ms Yusuf, who is an Nguvu change leader, made the call on Saturday in Kaduna during an interview.

She said that parents must be engaged in the process of overcoming stigma and instilling confidence in their daughters to handle the challenges that come with menstruation.

According to her, MHM is not only a health issue but also an education and gender issue, stressing that lack of access to menstrual hygiene facilities results in girls absenteeism in schools.

Ms Yusuf said, “Lack of clean water, privacy, and even understanding by peers and teachers contributes to girls not going regularly to school. This, in turn, reflects negatively in their class participation, lowers their confidence levels, and alters school performance. That which is initially a physical discomfort turns out to become emotional distress for many girls who feel ashamed or embarrassed of something as naturally human as menstruation.’’

She said that addressing MHM would reduce absenteeism and improve girls’ educational outcomes.

Ms Yusuf urged educators and school administrators to support the establishment of enabling environments that welcome menstrual periods as part of life.

She recommended the introduction of comprehensive menstrual health education in schools, starting early to make sure that girls and boys see menstruation as a simple biological development process.

Ms Yusuf also urged schools to provide girls with free sanitary products or at an affordable price, due to the financial burden associated with buying them, leading many girls to miss school.

The educator stated that girls should have the opportunity to use clean, decently private toilets to manage their hygiene with dignity.

She added that training should be organised for the teachers and school staff on how to deal with girls at the time of menstruation in an emotionally and practically supportive way.

“We have to break open discussions about menstruation in communities to help break down the cultural taboos that contribute to a girl’s isolation and shame. In this way, we create an enabling environment where girls feel empowered, not embarrassed with their bodies,” she said.

Nguvu Collective is an organisation dedicated to empowering marginalised women who have experiences of gender injustice, positioning them as powerful agents of change.

Their mission is to support over 1,000 emerging women from these communities to become impactful leaders.

(NAN)