A Non- Governmental organisation, Carmelite Women Welfare Initiative (CAWIN), has trained staff, produced and donated 10,000 reusable sanitary pads to female inmates nationwide
The Executive Director of CAWIN, Rev. Fr. Jude Isiguzo, disclosed this during a 4-day Capacity Building Workshops for Board, Management and Staff of CAWIN on Wednesday in Enugu.
CAWIN, formerly known as Female Inmates and Returned Citizens (FIRC) Multipurpose Cooperative Society since 2020, is supported technically by Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) and funded by Misean Cara (an Irish mission support group).
Rev Fr Isiguzo said since 2020 the NGO had established training centres and workshops for production of reusable sanitary pads for female inmates (in the custodial centres) and returned citizens (that is, female ex-inmates).
“These training centres and their facilities were set up in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Rivers States and the FCT Abuja custodial centres within the five years of existence of this NGO.
“This training centres produced and distributed over 10,000 homemade and comfortable reusable sanitary pads for the use of indigent female inmates in the custodial centres free of charge.
“Through these centres, CAWIN have trained 540 female inmates across eight custodial centres in Umuahia, Onitsha, Agbor, Abakiliki, Enugu, Lagos, Jos and Port Harcourt in the production of reusable sanitary pads,” he said.
The executive director said the NGO had sensitised and improved the knowledge of over 600 female inmates on sexual rights, menstrual health and hygiene management.
“In the course of these years, CAWIN also provided vocational training to over 20 returned (inmates and ex-inmates) citizens in soap making, tailoring and computer literacy.
“Most of them, who are out of incarceration, are doing well by producing and selling these toiletries and home items; while those that learnt computer literacy are engaged with the skill within their neighbourhoods,” he added.
Isiguzo noted that CAWIN aimed to achieve an all-inclusive and safe platform for all female inmates and foreign returned (inmates) serving in custodial centres nationwide and empower those out of incarceration.
“CAWIN will achieve this through empower, reform and re-integrate them into the society above all odds of discrimination and stigmatization,” he said.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama