In a bid to combat period poverty, a non-governmental organisation under the auspices of the 9th Realm Foundation, in collaboration with Silver Cross Hospitals, has distributed reusable sanitary pads to over 500 women and girls in the Galuwyi community in the Bwari area council of Abuja.
The event, tagged “Pads of Dignity” initiative, with the theme: ‘Empower Her: Reusable Pads for a Period Friendly Future,’ aimed to promote menstrual hygiene and reduce school absenteeism among girls who lack access to affordable sanitary products.
After the distribution, Winifred Mbashall, founder of 9th Realm Foundation, explained that the project was conceived after a needs assessment revealed alarming gaps in menstrual health management.
“During one of our training sessions here, we discovered that many girls skip school when menstruating because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Some resort to unhygienic alternatives like rags or cotton wool, which pose health risks,” Mbashall said.
She emphasised that the intervention goes beyond mere distribution: “This is a five-year project. We have completed phase one, where beneficiaries received kits containing four reusable pads, soap, underwear and care instructions. Our next phase involves training them to produce these pads themselves.
“We will return with government support to conduct training sessions. The women will then train others, creating a multiplier effect. Today we have reached 500 beneficiaries, but the impact will spread as they share this knowledge,” she said.
She further said that the reusable pad kits distributed are designed for long-term use, with each set lasting up to five years with proper care.
“Every beneficiary received personal kits. These are not interchangeable between users to maintain hygiene standards,” she said.
Medical Director of Silver Cross Hospitals, Dr Patrick Ezie, underscored the public health implications of poor menstrual hygiene.
“Using unsterile materials like cotton wool or wrappers increases risks of infections, pelvic inflammatory disease and even infertility. This initiative will significantly reduce such cases,” he warned.
The medical expert praised the reusable pad technology: “Unlike disposable pads that take 500 years to decompose, these are eco-friendly. The government should adopt this initiative into primary healthcare programs to benefit more underserved communities,” he said.
Chief Ezekiel Sariki, District Head of Galuwyi, expressed profound gratitude for the intervention.
“This will save our women from spending money on disposable pads every month. We will form committees to ensure proper usage and maintenance,” the traditional ruler pledged.
He appealed for government intervention, “We urgently need improved electricity, roads and healthcare facilities. Our clinic is too small and needs expansion to properly serve our people.”
Rotarian Francis Bekeez of Rotary Club Asokoro explained their motivation for supporting the initiative.
“As District Chair for Girl Child Empowerment, my mandate is ensuring girls stay in school. We found that girls miss about 60 school days yearly due to menstruation-related challenges,” she revealed.
Bekeez highlighted the psychosocial impact, “It is not just about access to pads. The shame, stigma and bullying from male peers force many girls to stay home. This programme restores dignity and keeps girls in classrooms.”
On the timing of the event, she noted, “While Menstrual Hygiene Day is May 28, we chose an earlier date to avoid the usual program congestion and ensure maximum impact.”
The event featured practical demonstrations on pad usage and maintenance, and comprehensive health education sessions.
Organisers confirmed plans to scale the project to other underserved communities with potential government partnership.
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