Men Must Champion Menstrual, Menopausal Health Awareness – OWACDO
Calls for Greater Understanding, Support for Women’s Health Issues
By Our Correspondent In Makurdi
The Executive Director of Okaha Women and Children Development Organisation (OWACDO), Dr. Joy Ijuwo, has called on men to actively support policies and initiatives that promote understanding and respect for the menstrual and menopausal experiences of women.
Dr. Ijuwo made the call on Thursday during a one-day review meeting on Menstrual and Menopausal Health for a Men's Forum involving Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media practitioners in Makurdi, Benue State.
She noted that the active participation of men is crucial in dismantling harmful stereotypes and fostering greater awareness of natural biological processes affecting women.
According to her, persistent silence, stigma and misconceptions surrounding menstruation and menopause continue to undermine the health, dignity and well-being of women and girls.
The OWACDO Executive Director explained that the review meeting provided stakeholders with an opportunity to assess achievements, share experiences and evaluate lessons learned since the commencement of the training programme.
She added that sustained engagement was necessary to deepen awareness and strengthen advocacy efforts within communities.
Dr. Ijuwo disclosed that OWACDO is implementing a project titled “Voices of Change: Empowering Women through Menstrual and Menopausal Health Education” in Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas.
The initiative, she said, seeks to challenge harmful stereotypes, promote accurate information and improve support systems for women experiencing menstruation and menopause.
She described civil society organisations and media practitioners as critical partners in driving social change, noting that their roles in advocacy, community engagement and public enlightenment position them to reshape public perceptions and encourage open discussions on issues often regarded as taboo.
The OWACDO boss urged participants to leverage their platforms to educate the public and promote positive conversations around women’s health, stressing that menstruation and menopause should be recognised as normal biological processes rather than sources of shame or discrimination.
She further emphasised that creating a society that respects and supports women requires collective efforts from families, institutions, policymakers and community leaders.
Representing the Director of Social Welfare in the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Principal Social Welfare Officer, Mrs. Mimi Dughna, commended OWACDO for its commitment to improving the welfare of women and girls.
She assured participants of the ministry’s willingness to collaborate with the organisation in advancing awareness and advocacy programmes,
while encouraging beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained from the training to improve health outcomes within their communities and organisations.
Also speaking, the Zonal Director of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr. Pascmond Mgbebe, pledged the station’s support for initiatives aimed at promoting menstrual and menopausal health awareness.
He reaffirmed NTA’s readiness to partner stakeholders in advancing public education on the subject.
In his contribution, OWACDO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Ben Odo, urged participants to become active advocates for menstrual and menopausal health awareness.
He called for intensified sensitisation campaigns, noting that many women still face challenges in accessing vital information, healthcare services and support systems.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from civil society groups, media organisations and government agencies to review progress and strengthen collaborative efforts toward promoting women’s health and dignity across Benue State.
