President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has created a pad bank for female National Youth Service Corps staff and corps members in case of emergency menstrual flow.

A statement by the director of press and public relations at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Eddy Megwa, said Pauline Tallen, women affairs minister unveiled the bank at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja.

She emphasised the need for continuous sensitisation of the female children and adults to menstrual and personal hygiene.

Ms Tallen also called for a continuous campaign against gender-based violence and the need  to change the negative social norms among girls and women.

Ms Tallen explained that efforts should be intensified on the sensitisation, enrolment, orientation and education of young girls.

According to her, menstruation makes the young girls easy prey for early marriage, sexual violence, teenage pregnancy, dropping out of school, trafficking, etc.

“It is on this note that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs mainstreamed menstrual and health management hygiene programmes and intervention to promote awareness on menstruation and hygiene,” said Ms Tallen. “It is also to build the capacity of women and adolescents to see menstruation as a normal biological  process.”

She urged Nigerians to embrace love and peaceful co-existence as election periods were drawing near.

“I am appealing to all Nigerians, especially our future leaders to give peace a chance. Everyone has a role to play and we must all be peace ambassadors,” added the minister.

NYSC director-general Muhammad Fadah said the scheme would continue to make its workplace conducive, especially for the female gender.

Mr Fadah, represented by the director of ICT, Christy Uba, said since gender mainstreaming became a national issue, the NYSC keyed into it and internalised it into its activities and programmes.

“I believe the choice of the NYSC as one of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to be honoured by the presence of the minister to unveil this pad bank is trajectory to the scheme’s commitment to effective and efficient service delivery,” he stated.

(NAN)