The President of the Association of Residents Doctors, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Branch, Dr. Margaret Erhunmwunsee, has warned women, especially young girls, against the use of pieces of clothing and tissue paper during menstrual periods.
According to her, using such items during menstrual flow can result in infections and infertility in the long run.
Erhunmwunsee gave the warning Friday at the Comprehensive Secondary School Atai Otoro, Abak, Akwa Ibom State, when she led the leadership of the Association to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day with the theme “Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030”.
She said, “Some of you have been made to believe that menstruation and menstrual pains are not something that is inherited, that when you take tablets, you will continue to take drugs for life, and that when you talk to a boy, you will get pregnant. All these myths are not true.
“Most importantly, you must stop using pieces of clothes and tissue paper during your menstrual flow. Using such items in place of menstrual pads can cause infections and infertility in the long run”, Dr. Erhunmwunsee said.
The ARD president, who donated 200 menstrual pads to the school, said the school was privileged to have the association come to educate the students on matters related to their menstruation.
The Co-ordinator of the WMHD, Dr. Ekemini Udi, who doubles as the vice president of the ARD UUTH, explained that the aim of the visit was to educate the students on safe menstrual practices and also to reduce period poverty, which occurs when a girl cannot afford menstrual products during menstruation.
In her remarks, the principal of the school, Mrs. Pauline Akpanubo, welcomed the team of doctors to her school and introduced the team to the students.
The supervisory counsellor on health, Abak LGA, Hon. Eventus Uko, while thanking the ARD for choosing a school in his community, encouraged the students to abide by personal hygiene and proper practices as taught by the doctors.
The students were taught normal facts about menstruation, symptoms and signs of menstruation, reproductive health, and some myths and misconceptions about menstruation. The proper use and disposal of sanitary pads was demonstrated to the students.