From: Samuel Luka, Bauchi
A Non-governmental Organization known as Chonngsquare Women and Children Foundation (CWCF) has held a one day activity at GDSS Miri to coach adolescent Girls on menstrual hygiene as well as create awareness on the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking during the event, Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Arkila Yelmi, assured that after the engagement with the children, the NGO will collaborate with the school management to ensure that the existing club in the school, if any, is reactivated in order to succeed in the fight against drug abuse for a better society.
"If the one existing in the school is not active, we will reactivate the club and ensure that this kind of session continue to happen from time to time to keep on reminding them because some of the materials been used for the training would be shared to the school and the school authority will now continue from where we stopped", he said.
"We have a lot of youths in the streets due to the negative effect of drug abuse from different dimensions, be it alcohol or other illicit substances. They are supposed to have a better future but unfortunately today, they are on the streets", Mr Yelmi lamented.
He observed that the children engage in drug abuse due to lack of proper orientation at their tender age, a situation he said, made some of them to be influenced by peer group.
Mr Yelmi who decried that campaign against drug abuse is not part of curriculum in schools, said that the teachers are busy inculcating knowledge unto the children without telling them more on dangers of drug abuse.
"This aspect is not been recognized, some parents who are doing their best do not have the knowledge of this societal problem even as they are. We are creating the awareness for the children to understand and make a decision that will better their future", he said.
He said that the NGO has also made available, menstrual Hygiene kits for distribution to 150 adolescent school girls as well as educate them on menstrual hygiene practices and promote self-care.
"We aim to restore the dignity and destiny of every woman and girl, hoping that our effort will have a greater positive impact on them. We want them to have confidence that the future is actually bright and that they can make it in life", the Executive Director said.
Mr Yelmi stressed that the awareness campaign was meant to ensure that the school children have good knowledge of their importance in the society and the better future ahead, saying that the campaign will made the participants to know how to make decisions and stand against drug abuse as well as, manage their menstrual hygiene correctly.
"We are targeting 150 adolescent girls to benefit from the free menstrual hygiene kits. The package include, sanitary pads, inner wear, detergent and Dettol soap", he said.
"We are trying to adopt a recent practice of pad bank, where a girl child will always have access to free sanitary pad for utilization and we will partner to ensure that it has become a reality", Mr Yelmi assured.
Our Correspondent reports that the event drew contributions from stakeholders, including school principals, members of ward development committees, officials from the Bauchi State Ministries of Education, Health and Women Affairs.
Others include, the representatives of Primary Health Care Development Board, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and the media.
The collaborative dialogue underscored the importance of unified efforts in creating a healthy, safe, and supportive environment for adolescent girls, empowering them to achieve their dreams and build a promising future.
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