Mbengwi Online : 2023 World Menstrual Hygiene Day in Mbengwi; Teenage Girls Commit to Regain the Right Path of Life

Family Photo of Participants, Organisers and Facilitators

As many organisations, institutions and individuals worldwide carried out activities to mark the 2023 edition of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Mbengwi wasn't left out. Some 50 young girls in the Momo divisional headquarters gathered in the conference hall of the MECUDA head office opposit the Mbengwi district hospital to recieve lectures on sex education, menstrual hygiene and gender based violence.

They were gathered together by a youth group known as Bedtime Melodies Fan Club. For hours, the young girls aged 12 to 20 were schooled on the proper wearing and disposing of pads, appropriate understanding and calculation of their menstrual circle, the "Dos" and "Don'ts" of youthfulness, overcoming challenges of adolescence and body care. They were encouraged to be open to either their parents or at least have someone they can confide in when facing difficult moments, some of which they end up falling prey to like alcoholism, smoking, drug consumption, premarital sex, unwanted pregnancy, abortion etc often out of peer pressure and youthful exuberance.

Attendees in Session

Presentation on Proper Wearing and Disposing of Pad

Hope for a Better Tomorrow (HOBET) is an organisation that fights against rape, gender based violence and promotes menstrual hygiene management, comprehensive sexual education. In 2021 and 2022, the organisation carried out campaigns in Mbengwi on these subjects. One of its trainees was Blessing Anwi Sakeh. As a member of Bedtime Melodies Fan Club, she thus decided to use her group this 2023 to pass on the knowledge she had gained to other young girls in her community.

Amongst the facilitators during the one day training was erstwhile Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Honourable Edena Enih Mbah, herself being a retired nurse. While schooling the teenage girls on GBV and Rape, she hammered hard on the need for young girls to watch their dressing, avoid going to the farm or bushes alone, rush to the hospital immediately incase they fall prey and also report cases of rape. She regretted that often, perpetrators of violence and rape on young girls are from within family circles. "Know that sometimes, men come from outside to us and we sometimes give out ourselves to be raped and so if you hate to be raped then be a good girl" she cautioned.

Erstwhile Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency Honourable Edena Enih Mbah Presenting on GBV & Rape

Practical Session on Production of Menstrual Bracelet

Ngu Emmanuel is the president of Bedtime Melodies Fan Club. Having sat through the lessons as one of the organisers, he also learnt something new from the facilitators. Speaking to Mbengwi Online on how the lessons learnt will impact his family, he said "I'll see into it that my wife educates the children so that they should be aware of it before it takes them unaware" and by "it" he was referring to menstruation.

At the close of the event, each participant was gifted a small bucket stuck with a face towel, a cube of soap, an underwear and a pack of pads. The items were obtained thanks to financial support from sponsors that bought the initiative like Dr. Bernard Tangwan of Open Door Medical Clinic in Guneku, Madam Tah Lucy in the U.S.A, Madam Karine of Ndakwah Foundation, Madam Tata Edith, a business lady in Mbengwi and the current Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency Mbengwi, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben.

Menstruation Kits that were offered to Participants

Participants with their Kits at End of Training

In appreciation, one of the recipients of the training and menstrual kit by name Courage promised to put the lessons learnt into practice. Another whose name we didn't get said "I don't know about others but for me, I'll change from the wrong things I've been doing and by the next time I come for such a meeting, I'll be better" a remark that was corroborated by another participant, Favour who thanked Bedtime Melodies Fan Club for bringing them together and now they're going back home not the same as they came. She said "We are not only here to take our gifts but the things they've taught us, we will grow up to teach others."

The last young girl Mbengwi Online interviewed said "I want to thank Bedtime Melodies Fan Club and Rainbow Radio for organising such a program and every year they should keep on organising such because it has really helped us a lot. In the future we will always remember you and tell other girls to come for the program next year."

Bedtime Melodies is a biweekly program on Rainbow Radio in Mbengwi. The program has a fan club that's been existing since 2013 during which they've been carrying out several community impact activities like clearing of road sides, filling of potholes, cleaning of public places like the Mbon motor park, visitation to other youth groups and donation of material assistance to cases they identify. This 2023, the club decided to mark the 28 of May, World Menstrual Hygiene Day by doing organising a workshop for young girls on the subject.