Pad Up Girls: Ilorin Royal Lions Club educates Kwara female students on menstrual health

The Ilorin Royal Lions Club today stormed the Government Day Secondary School, Gaa-Akanbi, Ilorin for her September service activity tagged Pad Up Girls with the theme: “Empowering Girls, Enriching Communities in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The programme which covered both the senior and junior sections of the secondary school, featured a range of activities including informative lectures and distribution of sanitary pads to female students to support their menstrual hygiene.

In her separate lectures, Dr. Bashirat Olanike AbdulGaniyu educated the students, focusing on menstrual health and hygiene, while offering expert advice on managing their menstrual cycles.

The medical doctor said menstruation is never a taboo but a normal body biology for women.

She advised them to always change their sanitary pad every 6 hours for normal flow, and 4 hours in the case of heavy flow.

She encouraged taking a warm bath to relax their muscles after each change, advocating for the use of clean warm water only without soap while washing their private parts in the process.

Dr AbdulGaniyu recommended the intake of cucumber, watermelon and a lot of water while discouraging the consumption of sugar but ion consumption during menstruation.

In a situation of irregular menstruation, she said, that may be normal in their early stages but advises visiting a specialist to complain if it persists after six months.

The medical personnel, concluded by urging the students to pursue their dreams with determination, emphasizing the importance of hard work, obedience to parents and teachers, and dedication to their studies.”

Speaking for the students, the Head Girl of the school, Imam Tawakalitu appreciated the Ilorin Royal Lions Royal Club for the gesture, saying they will all yield to the lectures and advice received.

In an interview with the Service Activities Chairperson for the Club, Lion Ammies Ogunleye, who spoke on behalf of the President of the Club, Lion Kazeem Okesina, said the programme is part of their monthly activities in fulfilling their mandates of humanitarian service to the communities.

Lion Ogunleye said the club has projects in their calendar every month in 200 countries, whereby they extend hands of fellowship to the needy and solve community problems generally.

She said they reached out to over 500 female students for the September Project because they believe training a girl child means training the world.

Other members of the Club who were at the programme included; Lion Oladapo Busari; Lion Mojeed Agbaje; Lion Alimi Lanre; Lion Kolawole Omotola; intending Lion Michael Awosika; First Aider Katugwa Gloria and Ebhomiele Blessed.