An advocacy group, Operation Pad A Girl Initiative, has donated hundreds of sanitary pads to students in Bayelsa State.

At a brief presentation ceremony held within the premises of Bayelsa State School for Children With Special Needs, Opolo in Yenagoa LGA, on Thursday, the group also educated the female students on how to change and dispose of their menstrual materials safely and with dignity.

Speaking at the event, the Secretary of the group, Pharm. Opemipo Ephraim Emmanuel, said many female students do not know much about mensuration hygiene and how to care for themselves.

She said: “The issue of menstrual hygiene management remains a significant barrier to education for many girls in our society.

"Accordingly, Operation Pad A Girl Initiative is aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene and support academic development."

By providing sanitary pads, the organisation founded by four practising licenced pharmacists in the state, namely, Pharm. Ruth Obidake, Pharm. Opemipo Ephraim-Emmanuel, Pharm. Esther Oduru and Pharm Sharon Anene, said it aims to empower girls to carry themselves with dignity and attend school with confidence.

Also, it distributed sanitary pads to each girl and educational material like pens were given to the boys to aid their studies.

In her remarks, one of the founders of the initiative, Pharm. Anene, said no girl deserves to miss school due to lack of proper menstrual hygiene products.

She said: "Our objective is to empower boys and girls on menstrual hygiene. We have also provided social support to over 1,200 girls and 800 boys across three communities and five low-resource private secondary schools in the state including the Bayelsa School for Children with Special Needs.

"In addition, we distributed sanitary pads to over 1,200 girls and stationery to the boys.

"Understandably, menstruation needs ongoing support, hence, we advocate that stakeholders should include annual pad donations in Corporate Social Responsibility CSR efforts and ensure access to toilets, water, and safe spaces for girls to protect their dignity during menstruation."