Wife of Youths and Sports Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Lady Blessing Ebonguko, on Monday, hosted a one day menstrual health and awareness workshop for young girls in public schools in Obot Akara, her local government area of origin.
The workshop, organised by her NGO, Whispers With Lady B as part of activities to mark her golden jubilee, lauded the wife of the Akwa Ibom state governor, Her Excellency, Martha Emmanuel, for championing a campaign for the welfare of the girl-child and women in general, with special care for widows, pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as the physically challenged and vulnerable people in the state.
Speaking on the theme of the workshop, Menstrual Cycle and the Reproductive Health of the Girl-child, Ebonguko stressed the need for young girls to receive education on the challenges the face as they approach the age of puberty and for them to be aware of how to maintain proper hygiene while menstruating.
Ebonguko flayed factors that pose threats to the welfare of the Girl-child including poverty, sexual and gender based violence, teenage pregnancy, family responsibilities, sex trafficking, forced early marriages, traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, girls and ignorance of menstrual hygiene or sex education all of which make it difficult for young girls to focus on their education.
On his part, the Lead Speaker at the Workshop, Dr. Candy Etokakpan, observed factors that affect the reproductive health of teenage girls to include ‘period poverty’ or lack of capacity for menstrual hygiene management.
While charging girls not to be ashamed of their menstrual cycle, Etokakpan counselled them on the hand washing culture and the use of sanitary materials, avoiding shaving their pubic hair while menstruating, washing the vagina with medicated soap, as well as, avoiding sex, noting them as tips for safe hygienic management during menstrual periods.
The medical expert also guided them on how to observe and manage their ovulation cycle, while stressing the need for total abstinence from sex to avoid premarital pregnancy which he said can hinder the progress of their educational pursuit.
Another speaker and wife of a former health commissioner in the state, Mrs Nelly Ukpong tasked the girls on the need to maintain their integrity by avoiding early sex, prostitution, bad company, peer pressure, while charging them to speak up whenever they face the danger of sexual abuse or molestation so as to get help.
On her path, the Coordinator of the Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path-initiative, FEYReP, Mrs Ime Ephraim Inyangeyen represented by Mrs Aniebietabasi Akpan (Gender Desk Officer, FEYReP), congratulated the facilitator and said the Workshop was a timely intervention to enable young girls acquire knowledge on promoting good MENSTRUAL Hygiene management.
In her goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of Obot Akara Local Government Area, Hon Mrs Agnes Udoenweme commended Lady Ebonguko for the gesture observing that, back in time, people shied away from discussing the all important issue of puberty and sex education and urged the young girls to take advantage of the Workshop to not only learn but teach others who are not privileged to be in the workshop. She on behalf of the good people of Obot Akara congratulated Lafy Ebonguko, herself a former First Lady of the council for her public spirited services and prsyed God to grant her many more years of fruitful services to humanity.
In a chat with newsmen, wife of the Executive Chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority, Mrs Inemesit Uwah described the girls of Obot Akara as lucky to have the opportunity to learn which she described as a welcome development. Mrs Uwah said Lady Ebonguko is a woman with a good heart and burning passion to contribute meaningfully to make other people great.
The event ended with the distribution of sanitary pad packs to the young girls selected from several secondary schools in the area.
Reacting, the students expressed appreciation to Lady Ebonguko for reaching out and prayed God to replenish her source
