United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for improved access to menstrual hygiene facilities and education for adolescent girls across Nigeria.
This call was made during a sensitisation session held at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Lambu in Tofa, to mark the 2025 Menstrual Hygiene Day.
UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Officer, Stella Okafor-Terver, stated that good menstrual hygiene is crucial for girls’ health, education, and overall well-being.
She emphasised the importance of a coordinated approach involving governments, civil society, and stakeholders to provide girls with the knowledge, materials, and facilities needed to manage menstruation safely and with dignity.
“The beginning of menstruation in the life of an adolescent girl is a time to be proud of, not one to loathe. Menstruation is not a disease. In fact, it is something to be celebrated because it shows that the girl is healthy,” she said.
Okafor-Terver advised students to report delayed menstruation beyond the expected age to their parents or guardians for medical evaluation and stressed the urgency of eliminating stigma and taboos around menstruation.
She also urged governments, religious leaders, boys, and men to play active roles in ensuring that girls have access to sanitary products and period-friendly facilities in both schools and communities.
“Menstruation should not hinder any girl’s access to education, healthcare, or opportunities,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, the traditional ruler of Lambu community, Dagachi Muhammed Wambai, highlighted that Islam recognises menstruation as a natural biological process and that girls should never face discrimination because of it.
“In our community, we support our girls and educate them. There is no shame in menstruation. It is part of life,” he said.
Principal of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Lambu, Hajiya Sadiya Ahmad, noted that the school actively supports its students by supplying free sanitary pads and promoting good hygiene practices.
“We always stock at least 100 packs of menstrual pads in our store. We encourage students to request for them and ensure they are taught menstrual hygiene practices,” she said.
This year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day was marked under the theme “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”
(NAN)