Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI), a non-governmental organization, is advocating for policies that promote effective menstrual health and hygiene management for women and girls with disabilities in Benue State. The organization’s Executive Director, Aver Akighir, stated this at a two-day training session held at Greg & Co ICT Hub Hall in Makurdi.
According to her, the initiative aims to educate women and girls with disabilities on menstrual hygiene management and provide their caregivers with the necessary knowledge to assist them. Akighir emphasized that women and girls with disabilities face unique challenges in managing their menstruation hygienically and with dignity, often encountering double stigma due to social norms surrounding gender, menstruation, and disability.
“One of the primary objectives of the training is to dispel common myths and misconceptions related to menstruation, particularly those rooted in cultural and religious beliefs” The Executive Director stressed that menstruation is a natural part of life and that women should not be shamed or humiliated because of it.
“It should be noted that menstruation is a natural fact of life and a monthly occurrence that millions of girls and women of reproductive age around the world experience on a daily basis and no woman should be rejected, shamed or humiliated because of this fact rather, all women who experienced this should be celebrated because it is a sign of fertility.
“The training is designed to reach out to as many women with disabilities as possible, empowering them to become advocates for menstrual health management among their peers” Akighir expressed commitment to educating all girls and women with special needs in the state, despite funding constraints that limit their ability to reach every local government area.
“It is due to lack of funding to go round the 23 local governments of the state that we resorted to being stationed in Makurdi, the state capital to empower those who are able to make it here with the knowledge so they could share with others at the end, and we believe our aim will be accomplished because of the large turnout of participants”, she added.
Earlier, the facilitator, who is also a consultant family physician, public health advocate and passionate educator at Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, Dr. Laadi Terrumun Swende and a staff of HAPI, Mercy Ngunan Jovkyundan, took participants through different sessions of the training, giving them vivid education and practical solutions on all that concerns the menstrual health management.
Several physically challenged girls and women who attended the training, including Nguumbur Chor, Benedicta Kave, Vivian Tavershima, Dorothy Kaha, and Mfeseer Ajikwa, shared their positive experiences with The Voice.
They unanimously praised the training for its impact, stating that it provided them with valuable insights into menstrual health management especially, gaining knowledge on proper body care during their periods, effective hygiene practices, and beneficial habits to adopt.
The project, sponsored by FEMINISTA is expected to last for 16 months, with the current training being its first phase. HAPI aims to empower women and girls with disabilities to take charge of their menstrual health, promoting dignity and well-being.
By sharing their experiences and knowledge, these women can become advocates for change, helping to break down stigmas and misconceptions surrounding menstruation in their communities.
