‘To end period poverty’ — NGO distributes sanitary pads to 500 schoolgirls in Abuja

The Daurama Foundation, a non-profit organisation (NGO), has called for collective efforts to address period poverty among schoolgirls in Nigeria.

In a statement on Tuesday, Samira Buhari, founder of the organisation, said conversations around menstrual health and hygiene should be normalised.

Buhari said the organisation has trained over 500 girls and distributed sanitary pads at the Junior Secondary School, Wuse, Zone 3 area of Abuja as part of efforts to address period poverty.

She said girls must not stop learning due to the lack of sanitary pads, adding that the organisation will not relent in sensitising women on menstrual health management.

“We at Daurama Foundation target improved access to sanitation facilities, adolescent sexual health education, adolescent nutrition education, mentorship, life skills development, and policy influence,” the statement reads.

“Every month, more than two billion people around the world menstruate. It is crucial that girls in Nigeria have access to the sanitary items they need to manage their periods safely and hygienically.

“We have to ensure that menstrual health aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting gender equality, quality education, and good health and well-being.

“Today and every day, we must normalise conversations about menstruation and take action to end period poverty.

“We are committed to the social, economic, and political empowerment of women through our programmes.

“Our desire and obligation is to eliminate oppressive cultures that lead to retrogressive practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriages to preserve the dignity of the girl child.

“The Daurama Foundation team has devoted this year to educating over 500 young girls on the importance of menstrual health and hygiene awareness.

“We also distributed period-friendly hygiene supplies, including sanitary pads, detergents, tissue papers, and exercise books, to the students.”

Adebimpe Ojo, the school principal, commended the organisation for the training, noting that it is a “significant step towards ensuring that our girls can attend school confidently and without interruption”.