Female journalists preach personal hygiene among adolescent girls in Bauchi

By Rauf Oyewole

The Bauchi State Chapter of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), has trained over 40 selected adolescent girls on personal hygiene education, as part of its activities marking this year's International Women's Day. 

The Association brought girls and young women to a one-day sensitisation training on how to maintain cleanliness during their adolescent ages, particularly hygiene and health education. 

NAWOJ in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office, held the enlightenment at the Palace of the Village Head of Tirwun in Bauchi LGA.

Chairperson of NAWOJ, Rashida Yusuf, stated that the Association chose the village and the participants considering the importance of hygiene education among adolescent girls. 

“NAWOJ is committed to ensuring good health for adolescent girls in order to have a healthy society considering that women are the greatest asset of home building.”

She commended the traditional ruler for hosting NAWOJ to hold the training in the area, stating that it was a sign of supporting the initiative. 

According to her, "The participants of the training were adolescent girls aged 14 to 18 years. These are the most vulnerable groups in the community, their hygiene education is very important, that was the reason we chose them."

A health worker, Murjanatu Mohammed, while addressing the participants, stated the importance of hygiene among women, particularly adolescent girls. “During the period of menstrual flow, the adolescent girls need to take care in order to avoid infections that are associated with the period,” she said.

She urged the adolescent girls to adopt reusable sanitary pads to cut costs of disposable ones. She encouraged the female participants to use salt and ashes solution to keep clean, healthy and hygienic. 

In his remarks, Alh Ahmad Muhammad Tirwun, commended NAWOJ for choosing the Village for the sensitisation training of the adolescent girls stating that it came at the right time. 

The traditional ruler assured that his palace will continue to be opened for such activities in the future because according to him, information is power and must not be hoarded.