Waithaka Joseph, Deputy Lead, WASH Borno State
Sam Kaye
About 1.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Borno state have been provided with menstrual kits in the past 10 years of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.
Deputy Lead Water and Sanitation (WASH) Joseph Waithaka made the disclosure while speaking with Krestnews during the celebration of the World Menstrual Day held at the Government girls College Maiduguri.
Waithaka noted that regardless of the status of the IDPs resident or not, they are entitled to dignity and provision of kits which enabled them to clean up and stay decent in whatever environment they find themselves.
“We normally give the family hygiene kits and inside you will find the menstrual hygiene component made mostly of reusable pads, soap, detergents and even the lines or wires to dry the pads when they are washed.
” Note that we emphasize sunning which is very important to keep it disinfected. ” he said
On why the world is celebrating the tenth year of WASH activities now, he said it means that its ten years the global launch of the WASH prog by UN agencies like UNHCR, WHO and the clusters in the wash business took a coordinated action to uphold the sub sector.
On disposal of pads by girls, he said that “we normally asks them to reserve specific garbage bins or sites where they can accumulate these pads especially in school environments were they are many.
“we expect a school to normally provide incinerators to help with the disposal of the pads. But were incineration is not possible, we encourage burying of the used pads as one of the methods.”
On yearly assistance to the girls and women, Waithaka who is of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) revealed that “we have been ensuring that any new displacement of IDPs are equally supported in the cause of their existence anywhere within the state.
” Those displaced during flooding or similar disasters are given replenishment kits to survive regardless of the disaster.”
Joseph Waithaka noted that dignity kits are equally useful to residents of reproductive age because it helps them remain healthy and clean.
On extreme challenges like menstrual cramps, the WASH boss said that such cases are channeled to the medical professionals who understand the problem and treat as the case may be.
Present during the occasion were a cross section of primary and secondary school kids who were treated to several skits on how to stay healthy during their monthly period.