Menstruation Not Shameful, Abuse Must Be Reported, CAMAC Tells Kaduna Pupils
By Our Correspondent, Kaduna
As the world marked Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026 under the theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” the Center for Media Advocacy for Mother and Child (CAMAC) took the campaign directly to schoolchildren in Kaduna, combining menstrual health education with lessons on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), personal safety and child protection.
At LEA Nursery and Primary School, Ungwan Gwari, Kawo, Kaduna North Local Government Area, pupils were taught that menstruation is a normal biological process that should be managed with dignity, while sexual abuse should never be tolerated or kept secret.
Leading the sensitisation on behalf of CAMAC’s Executive Director, Alex Uangbaoje, Programme Officer Christina Saidu said the organisation was determined to empower children with the knowledge to protect themselves from abuse and make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
According to her, the pupils were educated on how to identify perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence, recognise inappropriate behaviour, protect their private parts and report abuse to trusted adults.
“We taught them that their bodies belong to them and that they have a right to speak out whenever they feel unsafe or experience abuse,” she said.
Saidu explained that adolescent girls were also guided on menstrual hygiene management, including the proper use and disposal of sanitary materials, personal cleanliness during menstruation and the importance of breaking the silence and stigma surrounding periods.
Blessing Omonlola of Blessing Omonlola Foundation, who also facilitated one of the sessions said the programme deliberately involved both boys and girls, stressing that ending gender-based violence and menstrual stigma requires everyone to be part of the conversation.
“Many children do not know how to identify abuse or where to seek help. We want them to understand their rights, protect themselves and report any form of violence. We also want girls to manage menstruation with confidence and dignity,” she said.
The pupils demonstrated a strong understanding of the messages delivered during the session.
Narih Odu, a 12-year-old pupil, said she learned that no one should touch her private parts and that girls should protect themselves from abuse.
Another pupil, Destiny Sadiq, said the programme taught her the importance of personal hygiene, environmental cleanliness and safeguarding her body.
For Amani Meli, the school’s Head Girl, the key lesson was clear: “I learned that I should keep myself clean and never allow anyone to touch my private parts.”
The sensitisation forms part of CAMAC’s broader efforts to promote child protection, menstrual health awareness and safe learning environments, while advancing the global call for a world where menstruation is treated with dignity and where children are empowered to live free from violence and abuse.
