PSI Nigeria Partners JJC Skillz, Yemi Alade, Others on Menstrual Health Campaign
Tosin Clegg
In a bid to create more awareness about the need to promote menstrual health hygiene, a new campaign involving notable personalities in the movie and music industry would soon be released to the viewing public. Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria is taking a stand to address the social issues associated with menstrual health through the MH-NoW Program, which focuses on local production of affordable menstrual hygiene products, comprehensive menstrual education, and policy advocacy for subsidised menstrual products.
To amplify this message, PSI Nigeria is collaborating with leading voices in the Nigerian music and film industry to launch a national campaign themed “Time of the Month”. The objective is to highlight the struggles of menstruating women and girls who live through this stigma irrespective of their sociocultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The campaign includes a powerful song and music video, featuring real-life stories of a young girl and women of reproductive age facing the burden of menstrual stigma in their homes, workplaces and even from their spouses.
The campaign is meant to further seek the support of both the male and female folks, the young and the old in support of women in the Nigerian society.
Some of the cast who spoke about the objective and importance of the project include Nigerian singer and song writer, Yemi Alade, Nollywood actresses, Aishat Lawal, Maryam Booth, Liquorose, Nollywood actors, Femi Branch, Mike Ezerounye and Daddy Hikima with JJC Skillz as the director of the project.
In her comments, Aisha Lawal, said that “Time of the Month Campaign” addresses the issues surrounding menstrual health hygiene and the stigma around it, adding that she was proud to be a part of the project. She stated that it is nothing to be ashamed about, adding that it’s a natural thing.
Also speaking, Yemi Alade said her duty is to spread the word with the hope that more champions would come out to champion the course. Alade, emphasised that the very beginning of life menstrual hygiene and menstruation itself is something that people feel ashamed of when it comes up. She explained that people find it hard to show empathy when they hear a woman is experiencing their menstrual cycle which is why she did not hesitate to partner with PSI to shed light on this challenge. “This project is supposed to enlighten people that it’s not a shameful thing, it’s natural and it’s normal.
Mike Ezerounye, who played the role of Chidi in the campaign movie, stated that it is his duty to help and educate a lot of ignorant people via his craft and person and via being educated as well with regards to what women go through. Ezerounye stressed that he felt as one who is an actor or filmmaker that it is his social and artistic responsibility as one who would say he is a preacher via his works or craft, to address ills of the society.
On his part, JJC Skillz, said the campaign was important, while revealing that he is the last of 13 in his family and that eight are females, and stressed that he grew up very close to all his female siblings. “Most importantly, my daughter at age 13, contacted me and said that ‘my period is here’ and I had to run over and take her to the pharmacy to get her pads and train her on how to take care of herself. “For me, it’s really important that our nation takes it seriously because there are a lot of women out there that can’t even afford the menstrual products. “I think awareness is very important, government support is very important. I’m really happy that PSI has taken this upon themselves and are challenging it,” he said.
