Clina-Lancet Laboratories Nigeria, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 3, has supplied students at Queen’s College, Lagos, with sanitary pads and educational materials. The initiative aims to enhance menstrual hygiene among the girls and alleviate the financial strain associated with purchasing sanitary pads. The firm donated over 3,000 sanitary pads to support this effort.
Dr. Olayemi Dawodu, Managing Director of Clina-Lancet Laboratories Nigeria, emphasized the company’s commitment to addressing the issue of inadequate access to sanitary pads among girls, which often results in poor hygiene practices and school absenteeism during menstruation.
Speaking during the distribution of pads to the girls in Lagos on Tuesday, she underscored the significance of menstrual hygiene and called for partnerships between the private sector and non-governmental organizations to ensure the availability of sanitary pads for schoolgirls across Nigeria.
Dawodu emphasized the importance of cooperation between NGOs, civil organizations, and private companies to ensure that all girls have access to menstrual hygiene products. She highlighted that proper menstrual hygiene practices are crucial for girls’ overall health, helping to reduce infection risks and enabling their active participation in school and daily activities.
The National Library of Medicine defines menstrual hygiene as the safe and hygienic management of menstruation using culturally acceptable materials. It also involves having access to facilities that allow women and girls to change and dispose of menstrual products safely and with dignity. Managing menstrual hygiene involves using clean, absorbent materials, changing them regularly, washing hands with soap and water, and having access to safe, private facilities for disposal. Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to health risks such as reproductive and urinary tract infections, as highlighted by UNICEF.
Regarding the “Pad Up a Girl” campaign, the managing director explained its goal to educate and equip girls to manage their periods confidently and respectfully.
The program covered essential topics like proper pad use, hygiene upkeep, and reducing menstrual stigma. During health talks, Dr. Amaka Nwigwe, the Wellness Occupational Manager at Clina-Lancet Laboratories, stressed the significance of sanitary hygiene. However, she emphasized that menstrual hygiene involves more than just personal cleanliness.
