Her Excellency, Madam Fatima Bio on Saturday 20th February 2021 continued the distribution of free sanitary pads to school girls in Pujehun District Zimmi and Sarogbema Chiefdom Secondary schools.
The event was witnessed by senior Government officials including the Sierra Leone Ambassador to China H.E Ernest Ndomahina, members of both Julius Maada Bio Women Wing and Associates and the Fatima and Maada Bio foundation.
The Principals of both schools appreciated the First Lady for her commitment in protecting the girl child and visiting their school, stating Her Excellency has been doing that before her present position.He affirmed that the Free Sanitary Pad distribution is an indication that the First Lady is passionate about girls staying in school. He assured Madam Fatima that the girls at Al Qudus Secondary school, Zimmi Secondary School, Ahmadiyya Secondary school Zimmi, R C Secondary School Malemu, P D E C Secondary School Fairo, Ahmadiyya Secondary school Agric, Ahmadiyya Secondary School Fairo, shall perform well in their exams and make good use of the Sanitary Pads.
Speaking to Pupils in both schools, First Lady, Madam Fatima Maada Bio gave a recap of the Free Sanitary Pad project, which the two schools played a pivotal role during the fundraising program, hence they are fortunate to be part of the schools that are direct beneficiaries, amongst the 60,000 pupils that will be receiving the pads.In her statement at the distribution event, Madam Fatima Maada Bio told the cheerful young girls that menstruation is not something to be ashamed of. โ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ข๐๐, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐โMadam Fatima told the girls and called on them to focus on their education and say โnoโ to early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
The delivery of the Free Sanitary Pad is in fulfilment of a promise she made to provide Hygiene Sanitary Pads to school girls as part of the “๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐น๐” Campaign to keep them in school during their menstruation.
According to the First Lady, education should be a priority and the President has shown his commitment through the Free Quality Education, which she encouraged the pupils to take advantage of, as it is their right and the key to a tomorrow that will allow them make informed choices.
Her Excellency underscored the importance of the Free Sanitary Pads, highlighting the advantage it has on access to equal learning hours in school, and the feeling of being safe and secured during their menstruation.
While demonstrating the process involved in using the Sanitary Pad, Madam Fatima Maada Bio encouraged girls to be each otherโs keeper and report to the appropriate authorities if their friends confide in them concerning any form of sexual abuse.
Strategic Communication Division
Hon. Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament Cont 101 Sidie M Tunis said the free sanitary pad campaign was initiated by President Bio and First Lady. He said the president is a leader who cares so much about Education, and as a government they are focusing on building capacity, with special attention given to girls to ensure the next generation becomes people who can take this country to the next level. This is why they are investing so much on education more specifically the girls, stating that for a nation to succeed they must invest in women.
Office of The First Lady
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