Award-wining broadcast journalist and one-time General Manager of Radio One 103.5FM, owned by Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Anike-ade Funke Treasure is today, July 27, launching a podcast series entitled “My Period Stories”.
Announcing the launch of the podcast series in a press statement, Funke Treasure said they would be conversations and stories about menstruation, and would form part of her Sanitary Pad Media Campaign (SPMC).
According to her, the podcasts would touch on diverse issues, policies, and perspectives about menstruation from peoples across the world.
“It would feature stories of everyday people – girls, women, men, governments, NGOs, international bodies, and communities around the globe. The editions would capture authentic stories of pains and gains in the advocacy to get free sanitary pads into the hands of every girl in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world.
“The series use a variety of formats in storytelling ranging from interviews, discussions, reports, testimonies and more to tell stories about issues, policies and activities regarding menstrual periods,” she said.
She explained that “My Period Stories” podcasts are meant to “normalise the conversation about periods, girls, and free pads in Nigeria; to widen the scope of discourse about periods, to bring about policy actions from the government; to create better understanding and buy-in from all, in the call for the tackling of period poverty; and to mainstream the conversation about sustainable alternatives to disposable pads.”
The podcast is an integral part of her media campaign about period poverty, menstrual health, and hygiene. “We aim to normalise the conversation about periods in the public space so that everyone can
talk comfortably about periods,” said Anike-ade Funke Treasure, who is the convener of SPMC.
According to her, “Period poverty isn’t just about money, it’s also about the shame and taboo that shrouds menstruation. These often lead to people feeling too uncomfortable to reach out for help when they experience difficulties. For this to happen, we need to hold period-centered conversations in public spaces.”
She explained that SPMC’s vision is to join forces with individuals and organisations across the world
“working to eradicate period poverty, one girl at a time, one underserved community at a time, and one public school at a time.”
In pursuant of this vision, she noted that SPMC joined in the distribution of menstrual hygiene items along with others by instituting a scholarship scheme for school aged girls which now has 425 girls in four states of the federation namely Lagos, Oyo, Kwara, Kaduna and Benue States.
The scholarship provides menstrual items like pads, pants, beverage, soap and sanitisers to the girls monthly, as an incentive to remain in school,” she added.
Recently she received a donation of 10,000 units of re-usable sanitary pads from Diatom Impact, this has given impetus to her outreaches and partnerships with organisations actively working in the health, education and development sectors.
To listen to the first episode of My Period Stories podcast, click this link:
https://myperiodstorieswithfunketreasure.buzzsprout.com/2017268/11036504-my-first-period
