Menstrual Hygiene Day: Fostering a Period-Friendly Environment for Every Girl

At Give Girls A Chance, we believe that education transcends mere access to classrooms. It embodies dignity, self-esteem, and the assurance that no girl will be excluded due to a natural biological occurrence. In alignment with our ongoing commitment to enhance girls' education in Nigeria, we organized a special outreach event at Government Secondary School, Apo, in honor of Menstrual Hygiene Day.  

The Importance of Menstrual Health  

In Nigeria, menstrual hygiene remains a significant obstacle to education for countless girls. The  Nigeria Health Watch reported that more than 37 million women and girls in Nigeria cannot afford menstrual hygiene products. Most of them are compelled to resort to unsafe alternatives such as cloth rags, leaves, or newspapers. This jeopardizes their health and hinders their ability to engage in school, work, and community life.  

The issue is not solely about product accessibility; it also encompasses stigma, silence, and misinformation. Studies indicate that at least 24% of adolescent girls in Nigeria miss school during their menstrual periods due to inadequate facilities, lack of menstrual education, or fear of humiliation. These missed days accumulate, contributing to long-term educational disparities.  

Increasing inflation and the rising costs of menstrual products have exacerbated the situation for low-income families, particularly in rural areas. For households that are already struggling to afford basic school materials, menstrual pads become an unaffordable luxury.  

What GGAC Is Doing  

This Menstrual Hygiene Day, Give Girls A Chance will offer:  

• Period kits that include sanitary pads, soap, and detergent  

• Health education workshops led by trained volunteers and mentors  

• Safe spaces for girls to share their experiences, ask questions, and seek support without fear or shame  

Our objective is straightforward: to ensure that menstruation does not impede a girl's education. We aspire for every girl to manage her period with dignity, safety, and confidence.  

The Broader Context  

Menstrual poverty is not merely a health concern; it is also an education issue, an equity challenge, and a human rights matter. Nations such as Kenya and Uganda have made significant strides by implementing laws to provide free sanitary pads to schoolgirls and supporting local production of reusable menstrual products. Nigeria has the opportunity to follow suit by investing in infrastructure, funding menstrual health initiatives, and enacting policies that prioritize the well-being of girls.  Until that time, community-driven initiatives like ours are essential.