International Day of the Girl Child: Ebonyi Devtp Centre Coordinator leads campaign on menstrual health, anti-trafficking

The Coordinator, Anuagata Development Centre in Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi state, John Osi Omoke, has led campaign on menstrual hygiene, anti-human trafficking to secondary schools in his domain.

 

The campaign carried out on Thursday was part of activities in commemoration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child with the theme: ‘Girl’s Vision for the Future.’

 

Omoke, during the campaign, distributed over 1000 packs of sanitary pads to the girls in the schools.

 

He also took resource persons from some non-governmental organisations including the Nigeria Girl Guides Association, Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, and the Young Men Network who sensitized the teenagers on issues around human trafficking and child labour, menstruation and gender-based violence.

 

 

 

Speaking on his motivation for the campaign, Omoke said the rising rate of trafficking in persons in Nigeria, especially girls, demanded urgent actions towards steming the tides.

 

He noted that educating the young generation on the manifestations and dangers of trafficking, helping the girls grow their Knowledge about their rights and how to manage their feminity could go a long way in nurturing a secured future for them.

 

Omoke explained: “When I was younger, I had a relative that got abused, and often in my Community here, we have issues of traffickers luring young girls with fake promises.

 

I discussed this with a friend, and we find it germane to sensitize these adolescents using the platform of their schools, to let them know that it pays to be focused.

 

“At this age they are now, that is when they often begin to catch them through negative peer influence and other forms of allure.

 

The Coordinator commended the present administration in the state under Governor Francis Nwifuru for taking the issues seriously, and doing a lot to prevent child labour and trafficking through his various empowerment packages.

 

He stated that what he did was simply to align himself with the People’s Charter of Needs agenda of the Governor.

 

Nnenna Nnanna, one of the resource persons and the State PRO, Girl Guides Association, educated the girls on the right usage, disposal of used sanitary pads and other tips about their menstrual health.

 

The State Coordinator, NACTAL, Lorieth Nwafor, admonished the students on how to avoid falling prey to traffickers while Augustine Onwe of the Young Men Network encouraged the boys to always protect the girls and show them solidarity both at home and in school, avoiding gender discrimination.

 

Some of the children who spoke to newsmen: Ngozi Agwu, Ogbonna Anoke and Nnenna Ogudu, appreciated the team for the visit, describing the knowledge as rich and worthwhile.

 

The Principals of the schools, including Felicia Amadi of Ndiagu Community Secondary school, Okposi-Okwu described the visit as timely.

 

They appreciated the DC coordinator and his team and solicited for more of such visits.

 

The Coordinator was joined in the sensitization visit by some of his Management Committee members: Esther Nweji, Odinaka John Okorie and Ngozi Sunday.

 

Other schools visited by the team were Government Secondary School, Okposi Okwu, IsiOkposi High school and Ndi Unuhu Community Secondary school, all in Anuagata Development Centre.

 

International Day of the Girl Child is observed October 11, every year.

 

•Photo Caption: Coordinator Omoke talking to the students.