Angela Onwuzoo
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, Clina-Lancet Laboratories Nigeria has empowered students of Queen’s College, Lagos, by providing them with sanitary pads and educational materials.
SDG Goal 3 aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages.” The declaration emphasizes that to attain this overarching health goal, we must achieve universal health coverage and access to quality health care.
The laboratory facility stated that no fewer than 3,000 sanitary pads were provided to the girls to improve their menstrual hygiene and alleviate the burden of the high cost of sanitary pads, which have become increasingly expensive due to the economic hardship in the country.
The Managing Director of Clina-Lancet Laboratories, Nigeria, Dr. Olayemi Dawodu, while distributing the pads to the girls, said the company was concerned about the lack of access to sanitary pads among girls, leading to unhygienic practices and absenteeism from school during menstruation.
She stressed the importance of menstrual hygiene, urging the private sector and non-governmental organisations to collaborate to make sanitary pads available for school girls in Nigeria.
Dawodu said, “We believe that by working together with NGOs, civil organisations, and private companies, we can ensure all girls have access to menstrual hygiene and essential products.
“Menstrual hygiene is a crucial aspect of a girl’s overall health. Proper hygiene practices can significantly reduce the risk of infections and ensure girls can participate fully in school and daily activities.”
The National Library of Medicine defines menstrual hygiene as the practice of managing menstruation hygienically and safely, using materials that are culturally and socially acceptable, and having access to facilities and services that enable women and girls to change and dispose of their menstrual materials safely and with dignity.
Menstrual hygiene management includes; using clean and absorbent materials to absorb menstrual blood, changing materials regularly, washing hands with soap and water after changing materials, and having access to private and safe facilities for changing and disposal.
The United Nations Children’s Fund states that poor menstrual hygiene can pose physical health risks and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections.
Speaking on the “Pad Up a Girl” campaign, the managing director said it aims to empower girls with knowledge and resources to manage their periods with confidence and dignity.
The programme addressed various aspects of menstrual hygiene, including proper pad usage, hygiene maintenance, and dispelling of stigmas surrounding menstruation.
Giving health talks to the students, the Wellness Occupational Manager for Clina-Lancet Laboratories, Dr Amaka Nwigwe, highlighted the importance of sanitary hygiene.
She, however, said menstrual hygiene goes beyond maintaining personal hygiene or being clean.
“It also involves making sure that the girl child is comfortable and not embarrassed and confident to discuss menstruation and what happens to them, which is why a platform like this is a very laudable project.
“It creates an opportunity for discussions in the open. So, I’m just so glad that we did this today, and I’m sure that the impact that we had today will resonate in years to come”, she explained.
Commanding the company for the gesture, the Principal of Queen’s College, Lagos, Mrs. Oyindamola Obabori, represented by Vice Principal Student Affairs 1, Mrs Adebiyi Titilayo, said, “We are grateful to Clina-lancet Laboratories for bringing this important initiative to our school.
“Equipping our girls with the knowledge and resources they need to manage their periods effectively is essential for their well-being and academic success.”
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