CAWIN Produces, Donates 10,000 Reusable Sanitary Pads to Female Inmates Nationwide

BY SPCIAL CORRESPONDENT

The Carmelite Women Welfare Initiative (CAWIN), an NGO, says it has produced and donated 10,000 reusable sanitary pads to female inmates nationwide within the past five years.

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 Tueday in Enugu.

CAWIN, formerly known as Female Inmates and Returned Citizens (FIRC) Multipurpose Cooperative Society since 2020, is supported technically by the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) and funded by Misean Cara (an Irish mission support group).

Isiguzo noted that since 2020 the NGO had established training centres and workshops for the production of reusable sanitary pads for female inmates in the custodial centres.

“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.

“The centres produced and distributed over 10,000 homemade and comfortable reusable sanitary pads for the use of 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 that 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 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 including returned inmates serving in custodial centres nationwide and empower those out of incarceration.

“CAWIN will achieve this through empowerment as well as reform and re-integrate them into the society above all odds of discrimination and stigmatization,” he added.

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.