Sexuality, Menstrual Hygiene : Assisting Students To Manage Their “New” Bodies

The event on sexuality, puberty and menstrual hygiene held in College International Bilingue le Baoba, Bafoussam in Mifi Division of West Region. In attendance were 320 students, 16 teachers and 6 parents. The objective was to improve participants’ knowledge and awareness on the changes and effects that occur in the lives of humans during transitions from teenage to adolescence, and to full maturity. And how to manage these changes at each stage so as to stay safe from diseases and the consequences that come with responding negatively to them. 

Leaning On God
The Building Together Cameroon, BTC team, led by its Executive Director, Mrs. Endouh Anna Yerimah, was invited by the school authorities after following its activities on social media. She later handed over copies of brochures and awareness literature on menstrual health and sexuality to the school. The Executive Director said the best way to abstain from pre-marital sex was to have a personal relationship with God, because man will fail but God never fails. She requested girls to be more serious in their relationship with God, to value and preserve their virginity, and pursue their education in order to build their careers. This, she said, will enable them have a voice in society and in their homes when they get married.

Counsel With Love
Endouh Anne Yerimah urged teachers to show love to the most difficult and stubborn students by being friendly, seeking to know their needs and working to attain those needs in love. She also spoke on volunteering while expecting nothing in return.

Sexuality, Personality Uniqueness 
The students were informed that sexuality does not only mean sexual feelings, thoughts, attraction and behaviour towards the opposite sex, but also the uniqueness and personality of every individual. Everyone is unique in their shape and looks, thus nobody should look down on another because of their shape, they were advised.
“Love is good if somebody loves you and does not ask for sexual intercourse before marriage. Instead, he will want both of you to stay away from premarital sex to avoid STDs, unwanted pregnancies and stigmatization. Everybody is unique and wants to be loved because loving is not bad. But loving somebody by approaching them for sexual intentions is what is bad,” BTC facilitators emphasized.

Telling Signs, Changes 
Students were asked to cite the different signs and changes that occur in humans as a result of puberty. Increase muscle development, armpit hair, more sweating, body odor, deep voice, genital development, especially increase in the size of the penis and hair around the genital areas, were cited as signs of puberty in males. In females, breasts begin to develop, hair around the genital area starts growing, armpit hair starts growing, buttocks are enlarged and monthly menstrual flows start. With these, both sexes start having emotional and sexual feelings towards each other due to release of sex hormones called estrogen and testosterone in female and male respectively. 

The Challenges Of Puberty 
Students were further schooled on the effects of the feelings that come with puberty. Greater emphasis was placed on the disadvantages and consequences of getting involved in teenage sexual practices. Disadvantages such as unwanted pregnancies, school dropout, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and stigma, were stressed. Thus, it was reiterated that girls are at greater risk of poor management of puberty and response to the feelings. 

Crucial Transitional Stage
Both sexes were educated on how to manage this transitional stage in life through staying away from teenage sex, getting involved in physical exercise, learning new skills, arts and crafts when not in class; eating well and balanced; and by avoiding close company with boys. As well as taking proper regular baths, scrubbing areas that emit odor by using natural disinfectants like lime juice. And reporting threats of harassment by relatives at home or teachers in school to counselors, police, aunties and pastors.

Menstruation, Personal Hygiene 
Female students were sensitized on menstruation and personal hygiene, and the risks of contracting Sexually-transmissible Diseases, STDs and HIV/AIDS. More emphasis was laid on HIV/AIDS and the audience educated on how HIV is transmitted, how it can be handled and ways to avoid contracting and transmitti...