Poor menstrual hygiene can pose physical health risks, and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections.

Coupled with the socioeconomic barriers and access to sanitary pads, women and girls in Internally Displaced Camps are generally misformed on menstrual hygiene management.

In commemoration of World Health Day 2022, FAME Foundation organized a Menstrual Health and Personal Hygiene Workshop under the PLAY it DREAM it initiative, to promote personal hygiene, bridge the gap between the misinformations and demystify menstruation for women and girls in Internally Displaced Camps.

The workshop which took place at the Durumi IDP Camp, Area 1, Abuja, had about 200 Internally Displaced Girls from 4 IDP Camps within the FCT.

PLAY it DREAM it initiative is an ongoing project in partnership with the Global Sport Mentoring Programme(GSMP) and the French government through Agence française de développement (AFD).

The project aims at using sports as a tool to educate the girl-child, end early marriage and increase their participation in sporting activities, while promoting their general health and well-being.

Present at the workshop was Pharmacist. Halima Mamman Daura; Aissatou Kumagangue, Project Officer AFD; Camille Oren, Program Officer French Embassy in Nigeria; Juliana Taiwo Obalonye, Asst. News Editor, Sun Newspaper; Pharm. Uche Egbuka, and many others.

Speaking to the event, Aissatou Kumagangue, Project Officer at AFD, enlightened the women and girls on various myths surrounding menstruation.

“Your menstruation is not a thing of shame, but a thing to be proud of”, she said.

Pharm. Halima Mamman Daura educated the participants on different health implications that can occur from unhealthy menstrual practices and also advised the girls to open up and ask questions when they are confused regarding the subject matter.

Ms. Aderonke Bello, Executive Director FAME Foundation, urged the girls to not be ashamed of their monthly cycle, but rather see it as a thing of pride and a show of feminine power.

The event participants were gifted sanitary packs, following a final talk session on understanding menstrual cycle and illustration of how to properly use a sanitary pad.