In the spirit of the 16 Days Activism against Gender-Based Violence – an annual international campaign for the elimination of violence against women and girls, ASATTAHIR International Foundation has remained resolute to fighting GBV and responding to the humanitarian crisis of hunger and starvation faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable groups in Sokoto state.
The Foundation has today, the 7th December, 2022 carried out yet another cycle of Feeding Program for 1000 people that include IDPs, Orphaned and Vulnerable children, PLWDs and other categories of vulnerable groups in Sokoto state.
Following the recent menstrual hygiene assessments, the Foundation conducted during it’s previous food and nutrition interventions on women and adolescent girls at Ramin Kura and Gwiwa Eka IDP camps, it discovered high prevalence of poor menstrual hygiene, among women and adolescent girls in the IDP camps. This is caused largely by lack of awareness and poverty. This condition has exposed them to varying degrees of health risks including urinary tract infections.
In response, the Foundation distributed packs of menstrual pads and medicated soaps to women within reproductive age and adolescent girls at Ramin Kura IDP camp. AIF team comprising of Gender and Development Officer and Child Protection Specialist sensitized the beneficiaries on the importance of practicing good menstrual hygiene at all times.
The beneficiaries were taken through practical session where they were taught how to use the sanitary pads, how to dispose off after use and the importance of hand washing with soap and clean water to prevent infections and other diseases.
The Protection Officer Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Ukashatu Abubakar and the Distribution Officer of the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mika’ilu Mohammad witnessed the series of events that took place in the IDP camp particularly the menstrual hygiene kits distribution and sensitization to women and adolescent girls as well as the general distribution of meal packs that followed, which include rice and beans and satchet water distributed at Ramin Kura and Gwiwa Eka IDP camps and few other locations within the state metropolis.
The hopes for women and adolescent girls to experience and manage their menstrual health safely and lead lives free from menstrual shame was rekindled. The feeding venues were illuminated with expressions of joy and happiness with hopes to experience such kind gesture once again.
