FCTA Moved to Takes Action in Combating Menstrual Poverty

The FCT Administration through the Women Affairs Secretariat said it has partnered with local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to strengthen the fight against menstrual poverty.

The Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs of the FCTA, Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, disclosed this at an event organised to commemorate the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day in Abuja on Tuesday.

City & Crime reports that the event is organised by the Women Affairs Secretariat in partnership with ACIOE Foundation with the theme: “Together for a Period-Friendly World”.

Mrs Benjamins-Laniyi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Adetoye Kolawole, described menstrual poverty as the lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products, including water, during monthly periods.

She said that the partnership was designed to take menstrual information, sanitary pads and other hygiene products to the doorsteps of young girls, particularly in local communities in order to reach every girl at the grassroots with all that they needed for a healthy menstrual period.

Also, Ms Kanyidinofu Oyem, Gender Specialist at ACIOE Foundation, said that the enlightenment campaign was critical to clarify the misconceptions about menstrual period.

Ms Oyem noted that some young girls stayed out of school because they were menstruating because of taboos associated with the natural monthly circle.

One of the girls at the event, Nina Opeme, a student of Community Secondary School, Asokoro, said that the sensitisation would address the stigma associated with menstrual period,