Foundation seeks stronger partnerships in humanitarian services

By Stanley Onyekwere

A Non-governmental Organization (NGO), Gracious Foundation has sort for a stronger partnership with the government, local and international donors and other spirited individuals to excel in its humanitarian services to the people.

The Foundation made this point at a workshop/ sensitisation, where health professionals gave talks on different areas, ranging from; menstruation, menstrual cycle, menstrual hygiene and everything a growing and maturing girl should know concerning her developing body. 

Also, participants were exposed to the dangers inherent in unprotected sex and the need to maintain sexual purity as growing up girls.

The seminar, which centered on the consequences of engaging in early sexual intimacy with the opposite, also touched on how unwholesome practices could lead to unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS, amongst others. 

Speaking at the, founder of the NGO, Miss Amarachi Smart Ukonu, while distributing free sanitary pads to 96 teenage girls from Ndi Uduma Awoke Community of Abia state, decried poor usage and lack of awareness of its health implication. 

Ukonu, the lead organiser of the Pad a Girl Child Outreach, reeled out the vision/mission of the Foundation to include: reaching out to vulnerable children and the youth in rural and semi-urban areas with the Gospel of Christ, health awareness and needs, educational empowerment, food provision, poverty alleviation, skill acquisition.

She also revealed that an extensive- random research conducted by her team and other concern Organizations showed that about 80 percent of adolescent girls in rural and semi-urban areas use rags and tissue papers during menstruation, due to high cost of sanitary pads and lack of awareness of their health implication.

Describing the finding as most pathetic and unaccepted in this age, Ukonu, made a special financial and technical appeal to National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Ministry of Women Affairs and UNICEF.

She noted that paramount in her mind is the desire to develop programme that will carter for the health needs of the aged and the less privilege in the society.

She equally hinted that in collaboration with foreign partners, the Foundation intends to expand her activities and operations beyond the shores of Nigeria.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Miracle Agwu Ochu, who expressed gratitude to the NGO for the gift and exposure, said the seminar was an eye opener.

Another beneficiary, Miss Chioma Wellix Anyaorie, was full of appreciation to the Founder for her kindness and concern for the girl child.

For Joy Olaka Awa, one of the girls that participated in the Outreach, also expressed her unreserved joy as she lauded the effort of the Founder and her team for the sensitisation and exposure.