Emily Nzeribe tasks Imo school girls on ‘Body Positivity’

… As First Lady flags off menstrual hygiene initiative

By Ifeanyichukwu Ibe

A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. (Mrs.) Emily Akuabia Nzeribe, on Thursday, October 2, urged Imo State secondary school girls to always be conscious and positive towards their menstrual hygiene. She said that such would help them to build self-confidence, break barriers and to actualize their dreams.

Dr. Nzeribe, gave the charge at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Owerri, while featuring as the Guest Speaker during the launch of “Flow With Confidence” programme sponsored by the Renewed Hope Initiative of the Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, marking the official distribution of sanitary pads to school girls accross the state.

With her lecture titled: “Understanding Menstrual Health and Hygiene” Dr. Nzeribe, explained that “Menstruation is a natural and healthy part of life for people with female reproductive systems,” adding that the physiological process in females lasts for 3-8 days in every 21-35 days, though varies for each person. According to her, such natural reoccurrence was a sign that the body is healthy and able to reproduce.

The healthcare provider, however, frowned that economic constraints, unhygienic practices, social and cultural misrepresentations pose significant threats to menstrual health management, as the girl-child is faced with stigmatization, risks of infection and infertility, as well as the inability to pursue her education and other goals.

She enjoined the participants drawn from various schools to embrace “Body Positivity” to be healthy, overcome challenges, and tasked them to be bold in addressing their menstrual health, including knowledge-sharing on best practices with mothers, sisters, teachers and health workers.

The medical practitioner, charged the students on hand-washing, genital area care, use of healthy sanitary pads and appropriate disposals to achieve better hygiene and body consciousness. She also recommended light exercise, stress reduction, warm water, heating pad, healthy food, water consumption and medical attention from qualified personnel for menstruating individuals.

Dr. Nzeribe, extolled Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Imo State First Lady, Barr. Chioma Uzodimma for the intervention and other girl-child welfare initiatives in the country and the state. She advocated collaborative efforts  through targeted policies and fundings to create environments for girls, especially the vulnerable to manage their menstrual hygiene with confidence devoid of financial hardships.

In her address, Senator Tinubu, represented by Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, noted that the nationwide programme was to empower school girls with relevant knowledge on menstrual hygiene and to inspire them to pursue their goals with dignity and confidence. In addition, she disclosed that Imo State school girls would receive 10,000 packs of sanitary pads out of the 370,000 provided for states accross the country.

Barr. Uzodimma, described as unacceptable situations where menstruating girls especially in rural areas are deprived of access to education and other social activities because of menstrual problems, including inability to purchase sanitary pads, as she also decried unsafe menstrual practices. She added that the choice of the product was to provide a simple solution for the wellbeing of the participants.

The Imo First Lady, counseled the students to leverage the opportunity to improve their menstrual hygiene, and to pursue their dreams confidently, while urging local government officials and others to ensure a successful distribution of the sanitary pads. She challenged stakeholders to ensure that Nigerian girls are supported and encouraged “to live, to learn, to thrive and to Flow With Confidence.”

The event attended by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, former Imo State governor’s wife, Barr. Chioma Ohakim, state and local government officials, traditional rulers, party officials and various schools.