Deborah Makoji
Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ending period poverty and ensuring menstrual dignity for girls across the country, announcing plans to expand the establishment of Pad Banks in schools as part of broader efforts to improve menstrual health and hygiene management.
The commitment was reiterated during the commemoration of the 2026 World Menstrual Health and Hygiene Day held at Federal Government Girls' College, Bwari, Abuja, under the theme, "Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld."
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Director of Child Development in the ministry, Ali Andrew Madugu, said the Federal Government had elevated menstrual health to a national development priority through the launch of Nigeria's first National Policy and Implementation Strategy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management.
According to the minister, more than 20 million Nigerian girls under the age of 18 experience challenges related to menstruation, including stigma, inadequate sanitation facilities, limited access to sanitary products, and school absenteeism.
She noted that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, the government is implementing targeted interventions for girls through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention (RHSII-774), including the establishment of Pad Banks in schools nationwide.
"Pad Banks are not merely interventions; they are dignity infrastructure. They ensure that no girl is excluded from learning, embarrassed by lack of access to sanitary products, or forced to interrupt her education because of menstruation," she said.
The minister stressed that menstrual health is closely linked to education, public health, gender equality, and human rights, calling for collective action from government institutions, schools, families, communities, faith-based organisations, and development partners to eliminate stigma and guarantee menstrual dignity.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, represented by Mrs. Saeed Maimunat, described menstrual health as a societal issue that requires a coordinated response from all stakeholders.
She lamented that many girls still miss school due to lack of sanitary products, poor water and sanitation facilities, and fear of discrimination associated with menstruation.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, said menstrual hygiene management remains critical to improving educational outcomes for girls, noting that challenges surrounding menstruation continue to affect attendance, participation, performance, and retention in schools.
He reiterated the ministry's commitment to creating safe and inclusive learning environments through school health programmes, advocacy, and partnerships aimed at integrating menstrual hygiene education into the education system.
In her welcome address, the Principal of Federal Government Girls' College, Bwari, Mrs. Ibrahim Gladys Assibi, described menstrual health education as a nation-building programme, emphasizing that empowering girls with knowledge and resources to manage menstruation protects their health, secures their education, and preserves their dignity.
Development partners also pledged continued support for menstrual health initiatives. Speaking on behalf of Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria, Senior Programme Manager Winifred Kwaknat highlighted the organisation's work across seven states and 24 local government areas, where it has supported schools, health facilities, community groups, and government institutions to improve menstrual health outcomes.
She said innovative approaches such as storytelling, local-language menstrual health songs, and audiovisual education materials were helping to break stigma and create safe spaces for conversations around menstruation.
The event featured health education sessions, quiz competitions, cultural displays, advocacy activities, and engagements with students aimed at promoting awareness and encouraging open discussions on menstrual hygiene management.
Stakeholders at the event renewed calls for sustained investments in menstrual health education, access to affordable sanitary products, improved water and sanitation facilities, and policies that ensure no girl is denied educational opportunities because of her menstrual cycle.
0 Comments