Our society will remain backwards and in chains unless its women are liberated, enlightened and educated.

 - Saddam Hussein, The Revolution and Woman in Iraq.

Now you know...

Every young woman in Nigeria is just like any other young girl around the world, with feminine needs that are unique and suitable for each and every one of them. They all have their preferences for kind of soap, brand of body lotion and all other trappings unique to growing girls. They also have needs to wear pretty hairdo and nice clothes and shoes just like their counterparts all over the world. The girls in Nigeria have pretty much the same want and desire of becoming doctors, lawyers, engineers, fashion designers, nurses, hair stylist, artist, actresses and other aspirations obtainable just like their counterparts across the ocean.

The big divide...

The DNA that run in both worlds seem to be in sync only on paper but not in reality hence the divide. Whilst it is easier to acquire feminine hygiene products across the ocean by virtue of upheld responsibilities of parents to their wards, free or subsidized products, availability of subsistence jobs that support maintenance, enabling laws that curb preying on underage girls, environment that offers education on total feminine health, it is quite the opposite in sub Saharan Africa. Sanitary pads is a luxury for these girls. There are limited accesses to these products primarily because of their low earning potential and non-existent parental control or supervision. Multiple feminine products fight for space in their priority lists and tilt the fulfillment of these lists towards dependency on older men who then capitalize on their vulnerability to take advantage of them whilst increasing the chances of eroding set goals assuming they get pregnant.

The eye opener...

In reality, underage girls across the ocean discus their menstrual health with parents and teachers, making the topic as normal as possible while learning and acquiring knowledge about their ever changing bodies. These knowledge equip these girls to be able to take care of themselves and be aware of changes in their bodies. There are policies in place embedded in the school curricula that allow these girls to have a clear view and understanding. .This cannot be said in sub Saharan Africa as the topic is more so treated as a taboo. Menstrual hygiene is hardly brought up among families and within the social framework.

It is a situation where these girls are left to figureit out or learn from experiences. 9 out of 10 times, the experiences are deficient and shortcoming that they fail to solve these problems. They rely on make shift short term solutions that are below acceptable standard. Make shift solutions that range from using tissue papers and old rags as substitutes for sanitary pads to nothing at all. These short term solutions have been known to cause them discomforts and adverse reactions that cannot be reported. They do not report it less anyone think they have been sleeping around or worse still contracted a sexually transmitted disease. They would rather go the longer route of enshrouding the experience in secrecy whilst suffering discomfort, suffering shame, loss of confidence, loss of self-worth and worst on the list, so many missed school days. Yes, missed school days. They are scared to be body shamed, they are scared to be labelled, and they are scared of mishaps in school. Their Education suffers from this singular reason as they fall way behind in normal scheme of things which in the long run affects their chances of being an all-round woman.

The bridge under construction...

It Matters.Period. was born out of this need to bridge the gap between two worlds. A world that seemed way apart yet so close. It utilizes a simple model of giving back to the society in ways that will not only add value to it but also solve an apparent social problem. We have identified menstrual hygiene among underage girls in Nigeria as a social problem and have shown resolve to combat its deflation. This fight as put up by us will go a long way in restoring to highest quality of Hygiene among these girls, boost their self-confidence, redirect their focus back to the prize, reduce over dependence on opposite sex for supplies, equip them with knowledge that will improve awareness on varying changes to their body, enabling environment to experience an equal playing field, drastically cutting down on missed days, reinstating the importance of their position in society.