The Wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, distributed 10,000 packs of sanitary pads to schoolgirls in Abia rural communities to promote menstrual health.
Speaking during the exercise at the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Flow with Confidence in the state, Tinubu said the programme aimed at “enhancing the dignity and confidence of schoolgirls, particularly those from underserved communities”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event is, “Empowering School Girls Through Menstrual Health”.
The first lady, represented by the Wife of Abia Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, said that no girl should miss school because of her inability to afford sanitary products, saying that “menstrual poverty is unacceptable in modern society”.
“It is unacceptable that our girls, especially those in rural communities, continue to face challenges during their menstrual cycle, with some missing schooldays every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads,” she said.
According to her, the programme is undertaking a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities across the country.
Tinubu said that each state and the Federal Capital Territory would receive 10,000 packs through their respective first ladies and RHI coordinators.
She said that the RHI spent over N2.5 billion to procure the customised disposable sanitary pads from a local manufacturer in Lagos.
She urged Local Government Chairmen to take ownership of the intervention and ensure that the pads were distributed directly to deserving girls in rural communities.
She warned that the pads were not meant for sale under any circumstances.
Tinubu also called on corporate organisations, parastatals, agencies, traditional and religious leaders to support the programme and monitor the distribution in their communities.
She advised the beneficiaries to “stay in school, study hard and never allow shame or stigma to take away your confidence”.
In a speech, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Aghaukwa, described the initiative as “more than just an event,” but a movement aimed at confronting the silence, stigma and cultural taboos surrounding menstruation.
Aghaukwa described menstruation as a natural biological process that should not limit the confidence or participation of girls and women in society.
“In many communities, young girls miss school and women experience discomfort and shame because of myths and misinformation about menstruation.
“Through this initiative, we are saying clearly that there is no shame in womanhood.
“There is strength, pride and confidence,” the commissioner said.
She emphasised the State Government’s resolve to ensure that no girl in Abia was left behind due to the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products or proper education on reproductive health.
Also, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, described the initiative as an investment in human capital, education and economic growth.
Uche said that the programme marked a significant milestone in the efforts to improve menstrual health and hygiene management among schoolgirls in the state.
“Today’s distribution is not just about providing products; it is about empowering our girls, fostering gender equality and ensuring that no girl is left behind because of menstruation,” he said.
In her speech, a resource person, Dr Joy Okechukwu, explained that menstrual hygiene management involves the use of clean sanitary materials, access to water and soap and safe disposal facilities.
Okechukwu said that girls and women should be able to manage their menstrual cycles with dignity, without fear, discomfort or embarrassment.
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She said that menstrual health and hygiene affects the Sustainable Development Goals 6, 8 and 12, because it directly affects good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth.
“When girls miss school because of menstruation, it affects their academic performance and long-term opportunities.
“Poor hygiene practices can also lead to infections and other reproductive health challenges,” she said.
She urged parents, teachers and community leaders to dispel myths and harmful cultural beliefs associated with menstruation, adding that accurate information is key to empowering young girls.
Another resource person, Dr Theodora Igboruka, said that menstrual health is not merely a personal issue but a developmental and economic concern.
Igboruka cited national data indicating that millions of Nigerian women and girls menstruate monthly, while a significant percentage of schoolgirls miss classes due to the lack of access to sanitary products.
“If a girl misses about four days of school every month because of menstruation, that amounts to nearly a month of lost learning in a year.
“This creates learning gaps, affects examination performance and ultimately reduces human capital development,” she said.
Igboruka also said that the rising cost of sanitary products had further worsened access for low-income families, forcing some girls to resort to unhygienic alternatives.
She called for sustained collaboration among government, private sector, civil society organisations and traditional institutions to address cultural taboos and improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools.
Igboruka also called on the State Government to evolve a menstrual hygiene policy that would further drive the campaign for improved menstrual health management.
In a remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Becky Oguama, said that State Government was committed to addressing menstrual poverty, including the lack of access to affordable sanitary products, inadequate facilities and cultural taboos.
Oguama expressed the readiness of the State Government to evolving a policy that would support women and girls to achieve optimum menstrual health.
In an interview with NAN, two beneficiaries, Chiamaka Friday and Nmesoma Chigozie, thanked the first lady for the one-year supply of sanitary pad packs they received.
They said that they had also learnt valuable tips that would help them improve their menstrual hygiene management and boost their confidence.
They also promised to share all they learnt with their friends and family members to further deepen the campaign against the myths and misinformation associated with menstruation.
NAN also reports that the event was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and students from various schools across Abia.
(NAN)
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