More than 100 students, teachers and staff of the Special Education Centre for the Deaf in Coal Camp, Enugu, have benefited from a menstrual health and personal hygiene outreach aimed at improving access to inclusive health education for children with disabilities.
The outreach, organised by the FalconsCare Initiative for Women with Disabilities Empowerment (FIWDE) in partnership with the Bright Horizons Advocacy Network, focused on equipping Deaf girls with accurate, accessible information on menstrual health while promoting dignity, confidence and inclusion.
The organisers said children with disabilities often face significant barriers in accessing essential health information, making disability-inclusive education critical to their well-being and development.
The programme began with joint sessions for boys and girls on healthy living, self-confidence, respect and inclusion before the girls moved into a separate interactive session facilitated by female volunteers.
During the session, participants received practical guidance on menstrual hygiene management, personal health and safety, proper use and disposal of sanitary pads, and strategies for maintaining confidence during menstruation.
Facilitators also addressed common myths surrounding menstruation, encouraging participants to understand it as a natural biological process rather than a source of shame or stigma.
The organisers emphasised the need to create safe spaces where girls can freely ask questions and share their experiences without fear of embarrassment or discrimination.
As part of the intervention, 48 sanitary pads were distributed to participating girls to support safe menstrual hygiene practices.
Some beneficiaries welcomed the initiative and called for similar programmes to be sustained, stressing the importance of regular access to menstrual hygiene products and reliable health information.
The outreach also underscored the need to tailor health education programmes to the communication needs of children with disabilities to ensure they are not excluded from accessing vital information.
Volunteer Coordinator Okoh Vincent Tochukwu led the outreach team, alongside Christopher Onunze, Ifesinachi Ani, Happiness Agbo and Chiamaka Maduka.
According to the organisers, the programme improved participants’ awareness of menstrual hygiene and personal health, boosted their confidence, and helped dispel misconceptions about menstruation.
They also commended the management and staff of the Special Education Centre for the Deaf for their support and cooperation.
FIWDE and Bright Horizons Advocacy Network reaffirmed their commitment to advancing health, dignity and inclusion by expanding access to reliable health information and essential resources for children with disabilities.
