Abia State has hosted the state launch of the Flow with Confidence sanitary pad initiative under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, with a call for sustained action to end menstrual poverty and stigma.
The programme, themed “Empowering School Girls Through Menstrual Health,” held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, is part of a nationwide donation of 370,000 disposable sanitary pads to schoolgirls across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A total of 10,000 pads are being distributed to girls in Abia State.
In her remarks, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr. Joy Okechukwu, described menstruation as a normal biological process and a sign of reproductive health. She stressed the importance of proper hygiene, including the use of clean disposable sanitary pads, regular changing of pads, hand washing and proper disposal.
Dr. Joy Okechukwu noted that about 1.8 billion women and girls menstruate globally and emphasised the need for girls to understand their menstrual cycle, recognise abnormal symptoms and seek appropriate medical advice when necessary. She debunked myths surrounding menstrual pain, stating that sexual intercourse does not cure menstrual cramps, and urged girls to maintain hygiene and confidence during their periods.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Dr. Theodora Ngozi Igboaruka, described menstrual health as a development and human capital issue, not merely a women’s concern. Citing statistics, she said about 27 million women and girls menstruate in Nigeria, while 27 per cent lack access to sanitary pads due to poverty. She added that school absenteeism linked to menstruation stands at 23 per cent nationally and 22 per cent in the South-East.
She called on traditional rulers, parents and community leaders to confront harmful taboos and discriminatory practices, urging the integration of menstrual hygiene education into primary healthcare and school programmes. According to her, improving menstrual health will enhance educational attainment, workforce readiness and overall state productivity.
In a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Becky Ogechi, said the initiative marks a significant milestone in efforts to eradicate menstrual poverty in Abia State. She commended the Wife of the Abia State Governor, Lady Priscilla Otti, for stepping down the programme to the state level and pledged that the Technical Working Group on Menstrual Health would sustain it through education, improved sanitation facilities and community engagement. She also disclosed that a menstrual health policy would be implemented in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, described menstrual health as a matter of equality, education and societal development, noting that investment in adolescent health is an investment in the state’s future productivity and social inclusion.
In a vote of thanks, the Senior Special Assistant on Women Affairs, Hon. Chinenye Nwaka, urged stakeholders and community leaders to support the initiative, stressing that no girl should miss school because of her period. She encouraged girls to remain focused on their education and aspirations.
The initiative aims to ensure that girls manage menstruation safely and with dignity, free from fear and stigma.
