The Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday in Owerri, launched a menstrual health intervention, themed “Flow with Confidence,” under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), procuring the customised disposable sanitary pad worth #2.5 billion.
The programme aims to provide a one-year supply of sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities across the nation.
The RHI procured the customised disposable sanitary pads from a local company, Uniglory Nigeria Ltd., to promote domestic production.
Speaking at the launch in Owerri, the First Lady emphasised that the intervention aimed at ensuring that no girl should miss school because of her inability to afford sanitary products.”
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the Wife of Imo Governor, Mrs Chioma Uzodinma, said it was unacceptable that girls missed classes due to menstrual issues.
“The programme is critical because girls in rural areas miss school days every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads, leading to them falling behind or dropping out.
“Each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will receive 10,000 packs of the pads for distribution to deserving girls in rural communities, to support their education.
“The initiative believes that no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity and her education,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu, who emphasised the connection between menstrual health and academic success, stated that the programme’s success depended on community ownership.
The First Lady specifically appealed to local government area chairmen to take ownership of the intervention to ensure supplies reached the proper beneficiaries.
She stressed that the pads were not to be sold under any circumstances and urged traditional and religious leaders to monitor the distribution exercise in their communities.
The programme launched simultaneously in eight states: Borno, Cross River, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kebbi, and Lagos, with other states set to follow upon receiving their supplies.
Mrs Tinubu charged the beneficiaries to stay in school, study hard, support one another, and never allow shame or stigma to take away their confidence.
Earlier in a lecture, Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist Dr Emily Akuabia-Nzeribe said the programme would empower women, enhance environmental sustainability, and support vulnerable communities.
Akuabia-Nzeribe, who spoke on menstrual hygiene, advised secondary school girls present at the event to maintain good hygiene and not be ashamed.
She explained that menstruation came with physical, social, economic, and psychological burdens.
“The physical boarding could come with some health risks and infections, as well as infertility, if not properly managed.
“For the social burden, it comes with stigmas, discrimination and bullying,” she said.
The consultant noted that RHI was more focused on addressing the economic burden associated with menstruation.
“The economic burden of period poverty occurs among many young girls, who cannot go to school because they do not have the appropriate menstrual product to use.
“Some of them stay at home because their parents cannot afford the right menstrual products they need.
“This is the problem the renewed hope initiative is trying to solve, and we must be grateful for that,” she added.
The programme was themed: “Empowering School Girls through Menstrual Health.”
