Menstrual Hygiene Day: Anambra First Lady Pledges Increased Interventions To Tackle Period Poverty, Surpass Current 250,000 Pad Distribution Number
The First Lady of Anambra State and founder of the non-governmental initiative, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, Dr Mrs Nonye Soludo, has pledged increased support and interventions to address menstrual hygiene challenges across schools and communities in the state.
Dr Nonye made the pledge during an event marking the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration in Awka, noting that hygiene remains one of the six cardinal pillars of the Healthy Living initiative and stressing the importance of instilling healthy habits early in children, especially girls, as habits formed at a young age help build healthier homes and communities.
The event, which attracted schoolgirls of menstruation age alongside ambassadors of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo School Clubs from various schools across the state, featured lectures and interactive sessions on women’s health, hygiene and menstrual education.
Addressing the girls, the governor’s wife reminded them that menstruation is a natural part of life and should never be seen as a taboo or a source of shame.
She regretted that many girls across different communities still suffer in silence because of stigma, poor hygiene education, lack of sanitary materials and harmful cultural misconceptions, stressing that no girl should be isolated, mocked, restricted from activities or made to feel inferior during her menstrual cycle.
Dr Nonye further called on families and communities to replace shame with understanding, silence with education, and exclusion with compassion and support.
She also appealed to Ndị Anambra to continue supporting ongoing efforts aimed at ending all forms of discrimination, stigma and harmful practices against menstruating women and girls.
The first lady equally revealed that her NGO has successfully established sanitary pad banks in over 350 schools across Anambra State, with periodic restocking based on needs and usage.
She added that more than 250,000 sanitary pads have so far been distributed through the initiative to support schoolgirls across the state.
Earlier in a presentation, a medical expert from the Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr Rose Amasiani, spoke on the numerous myths surrounding menstruation, especially misconceptions often exploited by some individuals to take advantage of young girls.
She advised the students to understand that menstruation is a normal biological process and not something to be ashamed of.
According to her, society’s silence around menstruation and related issues has fueled stereotypes and misinformation that continue to mislead many young girls, stressing that the time has come to change the narrative.
In another presentation, a resource person, Dr Chikosolu Oforbuike, emphasized the importance of girls understanding their menstrual cycle and other related health issues, noting that such knowledge would help them take better care of themselves.
She also urged them to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation.
Highlights of the event included the distribution of sanitary pad packs to school ambassadors for the restocking of their various pad banks, as well as seed packs to support the establishment of school gardens.
