By William Madouk
About 480 women and girls have undergone training in mentorship programs on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and menstrual hygiene in Aweil West and Aweil North Counties.
They have also received free dignity kits from a national organization called Hope Africa South Sudan.
In an interview with our outlet, Mr. Aduol Aduol Yel, the Executive Director of Hope Africa South Sudan, stated that a total of 500 dignity kits were to be distributed to 500 women and girls of reproductive age. Currently, 480 dignity kits have already been distributed.
Ms. Aweng Bol, the Procurement Logistics Assistant for HASS, said they help vulnerable girls, women and returnees in Aweil North and West counties that host a majority of the population.
“We are distributing the sanitary kits to the 60 vulnerable females which include women and girls who are internally displaced, returnees, and the host community” said Aweng.
“The total number of beneficiaries we are targeting in Aweil West County and Aweil North County is 480,” she added.
According to her, the exercise is important because it helps young ladies and girls who cannot afford sanitary pads their monthly periods sequence.
Ms Veronic Awit Wieu, one of the beneficiaries – who fled the wrath of war in Sudan said “I am currently living in the Maduany area and I appreciate the organization for distributing the items to women and girls of reproductive age.
In addition, another recipient from the host community, Awein Mawein said “I am very happy to receive the kits and thank the organization because we cannot afford them.”
Meanwhile, Ajak Ngor Nuthin, the Director General at the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State’s Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, commended Hope Africa South Sudan for its continuous assistance to women and girls in the state.
“We are happy that Hope Africa South Sudan is cooperating with us and that is why they managed to bring the dignity kits for women and young girls of reproductive age to protect them when they have periods,” she stated.
The “Provision of Emergency Protection Support Services Project” is being implemented by HASS in partnership with IOM-RRF, funded by USAID, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
According to HASS, the project has four (4) components such as Community Awareness on ending Gender Based Violence, Provision of dignity kits to women and girls or reproductive age.
Others include Economic Empowerment and Establishment of 2 Women and Girls’ Friendly Spaces, Case Management services in Wedwiel, Aweil West County and in Ariath, Aweil North County.
Up to now, the project has assisted 480 women and girls of reproductive age in various locations including Mariem East, Mariem West, Gomjuer East, Gomjuer Centre payams of Aweil West and in Malual West, Malual East, Ariath, and Malual Centre counties of Aweil North Counties.