Pad Up Menstrual and Sensitization Initiative, also known as Pad Up Africa has embarked on a 5000 Mask Campaign.
The campaign which is aimed at providing 5000 masks to disadvantaged women and children in rural communities across the FCT was designed to help reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and to also promote the use of sanitary masks.
According to Ashley Lori who is the Executive Director of Pad Up Africa, the initiative isn’t just to give out nose masks, but rather to sensitize the people in the rural communities on the hazard of Covid-19 and the need for them to wear facemasks to help reduce their exposure to the virus.
“The ease in the lockdown is not an indication that we are now completely free from the virus. According to the medical experts, the best way to protect ourselves this season is by ensuring that we make use of our nose masks, wash our hands regularly with soap and water, make use of hand sanitizers and above all, adhere to social distancing,” Ashley said.
The Executive Director decried the level of ignorance that exists amongst several persons living in the rural communities. While many of them still do not believe in the existence of the virus, several of them are of the opinion that it can only affect the wealthy people in the society.
She then appealed to everyone to play their role in ensuring that the curve in flattened and the number of infections, reduced.
Established in 2017, Pad Up Menstrual Sensitization Initiative is an Abuja-based Non-Governmental Organisation established with the aim of ending period poverty among adolescent schoolgirls and women in Nigeria and Africa through menstrual and sanitary hygiene sensitization, advocacy and distribution of sanitary pads. Since its inception, the organisation has impacted upon the lives of over 15,000 schoolgirls and women within and outside the FCT through it various programmes and outreaches which has gone a long way to restore the confidence of these girls and women