Basis to reward ladies sanitary pads

AIDS Healthcare Foundation Nigeria said it will be engaging with women across 154 facilities in the seven areas of operation – FCT, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Kogi and Nasarawa states, to commemorate the International Women’s Day.

AHF also said it will distribute free sanitary pads to women in its engagement programmes.

The IWD is celebrated on March 8 annually. The official theme of the day for the United Nations is ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress.’

The engagements with the women at these locations will empower women to take charge of their health while overcoming barriers to help them thrive.

A statement by the Advocacy and Marketing Manager of AHF, Steve Aborishade, on Friday noted that there is a need to recognise the incredible strides women have made towards equal rights, including access to healthcare, while remembering that the world still has a long way to go before women are empowered, safe, and healthy worldwide.

“To commemorate IWD, join AHF Nigeria as we hold engaging and purposeful IWD conversations with the women on our programme across 154 facilities in the seven states of operation in Abuja – FCT, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Kogi and Nasarawa states.

“The engagements with the women at these locations will empower women to take charge of their health while overcoming barriers to help them thrive.

“AHF Nigeria’s International Women’s Day event will include Continuous Medical Education by AHF Nigeria state teams and psychosocial coping mechanisms to empower the women and enhance their resilience in the face of the daunting challenges many are faced with. Free sanitary pads will be distributed to the women in attendance,” the statement partly read.

The AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, Dr Echey Ijezie said, ‘’The need for more inclusive and equitable world for women and young girls cannot be over-emphasised, particularly the need to shed the suffocating stereotypes, stigmas, and discrimination that keep women and girls worldwide from realizing their true potential and succeeding.

“It is thus important to ensure that women have all they need to succeed, including equal access to health care, education, and employment.”

According to UNAIDS, women and girls make up a disproportionate amount of people living with HIV globally. In 2022, 4,000 girls and young women aged 15 to 24 worldwide acquired HIV every week.