Menstrual hygiene: Oriental Energy Resources Donates Over 1000 Sanitary Pads, Books to School Girls in A'Ibom

 

In its sustained efforts to address menstrual poverty among female students in public secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State, an indigenous oil firm, Oriental Energy Resources LTD has donated sanitary pads, books and other items to over 1,000 girls in two public secondary schools in Akwa Ibom state.

Girls from Southern Annang Comprehensive Secondary school, Orukanam and Community Secondary School, Afia Nsit Urua Nko, Nsit Ibom local government areas benefited.

Addressing the gathering at their respective schools, the Managing Director of Oriental Energy Resources Ltd, Mr Mustapha Indimi, said the gesture was part of the company's contributions to the celebration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, held globally on October 11, 2024, on the theme "Girls Vision for the Future".

Represented by the Head, Community and Governmental Relations, Dr Uwem Ite, Indimi stated that the programme was also the company's assistance towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 4 which focused of effective health delivery and provision of quality education respectively.

Giving an explanation to the adversed condition of the girl child, Indimi noted that in the developing country, one out of five girls, representing 20 percent and four out of ten girls, representing 40 percent, were not able to complete junior and senior secondary education, responsibility.

"Let me start by sharing the fact that studies in developing countries have shown that due to a variety of reasons, one in five girls, representing 20% , are not able to complete junior secondary education. Similarly, four in 10 girls, representing 40% are also not able to complete senior secondary school", he said.

He said the situation had grossly impeded the girls ability to key into available chances and opportunities which needed formal education as requisite standard and certification, a situation Indimi hinted had made Oriental believed that investing in the socio-economic development of the girl child, was the right option as it would create positive impact to their families, communities and the larger society.

Indimi reiterated the commitment of his company to work in line with the call of the United Nations to build the capacity of the girl child through by providing access to quality education, resources required and opportunities to take part at n leadership.

" We fully agree with the United Nations Secretary-General who noted earlier this month that we must provide girls with with a seat at the table, through education and by giving them the resources they need and opportunities to participate and lead", Indimi stated.

He informed the gathering that the Oriental Energy had the first edition of the Girl Child Health Education Outreach programme 2023:at Ibesikpo Secondary Commercial School, Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo Asutan and Amayam Community  Secondary School, Mbiaso, in Ikot Ekpene, where 1000 female students got sanitary packs , containing 12 months supply of hygiene products.

Indimi maintained that building on the success of the first programme, the 2024 distribution of sanitary packs at Northern Annang Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Okoro, Oruk Anam and Community Secondary School, Afia Nsit Urua Nko, Nsit Ibom local government, was an integrated education advocacy, sensitization, awareness and empowerment initiative to celebrate with the girls.

He disclosed that this year's programme would be laced with other activities namely; enlightenment talk on sustainable development goal, female hygiene management, HIV/AIDS and child trafficking, distribution of Akwa Ibom Government approved text books in literature: "The Abandoned and Other Stories", donation of hand washing facilities and waste management bins to the schools.

Indimi pointed out that Oriental Energy philosophy behind the programme was to "create positive sustainable footprints through projects and programmes that would improve the quality of life of the people in various communities including those of students in the school.

The Commissioner of Health, Akwa Ibom State, represented by the Coordinator, Adolescent Unit, Mrs Comfort Thompson said the outreach program represented a significant milestone and opportunity to empower young girls with essential knowledge about health, nutrition, and personal well-being. 

She noted that educating the future leaders was not just a responsibility; but an investment in the prosperity of our state and applauded the company for its unwavering commitment to promoting health education and  innovative strategies.

The Permanent Secretary, State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Akparawa Okon Tom, stated that as a Board, SSEB was happy to be identified with the company's vision to address the social need of the girl child as it concerned their health.

Tom thanked Oriental Energy for keying into the state government ARISE Agenda of ensuring that the health capacity of the girl child was built and supported to acquire the free and compulsory education programme.

Engineer Anietie Ema of the Ministry of Environment, said the items would arrest the critical challenges by young girls in the school system and commended the company for the initiative.

In gratitude to Oriental Energy, the principals and students in both schools counted themselves favoured for being chosen for the programme among schools in their localities, pledging to imbibe the lessons drawn from the outreach to improve their lives.

Highpoints of the outreach were the distribution of sanitary packs to 1000 female students, presentation of waste management bins and hand washing family to the school management and empowerment lecture.

Other items presented by the firm included Akwa Ibom state government branded textbooks hand washing items etc.

Photo: Donations of sanitary pads and hand washing items to schools by Oriental Energy Resources Limited in Akwa Ibom last week.