by Girl Rising Student Ambassador, Efonya Faith Habu
As I sit to write this, my heart is heavy with the thought of the countless girls living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Taraba State. Their lives are a daily struggle, with limited access to education, poor hygiene facilities, and increased vulnerability to abuse. It's a bleak reality that's hard to ignore. These are unique challenges faced by girls, particularly in marginalized communities and IDPs. One aspect in empowering girls is enhancing their hygiene, particularly menstrual hygiene management. Addressing these challenges is essential to empowering them and ensuring they can live with dignity and HOPE to a brighter future.
The Problem and its Effects
Around the world, millions of girls lack access to proper menstrual hygiene facilities, products and education. For girls in IDP camps, this crisis is even more alarming. With the heartbreaking statistics, girls in IDP camps are at risk of exploitation, early marriage, and sexual violence which exposes them to lack access to basic necessities like education, healthcare, and sanitation. It's a
crisis that demands our attention, our compassion, and our action. This has led and is leading many girls into: absenteeism in school, health risk and shame and stigma.
Solutions and Strategies
Multifaceted approach is required in empowering girls which addresses their physical, emotional, and social needs. Thus, enhancing hygiene is a critical component of this effort. Key strategies include:
Education and Awareness, -teaching girls about menstrual health to reduce stigma and build confidence
Access to sanitary products- ensuring affordable and sustainable options are available
Menstrual hygiene facilities, - Creating safe, private spaces for girls to manage their hygiene with dignity
Supportive environment - Engaging communities, families and educator to foster understanding and advocacy
These goals can be achieved via community engagement, partnership and collaboration, innovative solutions (an alternative to high-priced products) and advocacy and policies change.
Conclusion
As I conclude this, I'm reminded of the words “Not everyone can be a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere" a quote from “Ratatouille” a Disney animated film. It's a truth that rings in my heart everyday: displaced but not forgotten. I plead that we join hands to become a tiny bit of courage and hope they really need by providing girls with education, access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene facilities, and supportive environments. As we celebrate the festive period, we are sure that a girl is being empowered, most importantly, has a beautiful smile as she receives reading material and is being reminded that she is not alone and never forgotten.
About the Author
Efonya Faith Habu is a passionate advocate for girls' empowerment, advocate against child abuse and menstrual hygiene management. With 3 years of experience in humanitarian service. Efonya Faith Habu has worked with various various organizations (Local authority, Government and NGO) to develop and implement programs that promote girls' education, health, and well-being.
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