The lack of sanitary products affects millions of girls worldwide. This situation forces teenagers to use unhygienic alternatives, which cause them to miss schools or work and face health complications. In this report, BLESSING OKOLA looks at the challenges teenage students face during menstruation.
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to sanitary products, safe and clean facilities, and education on menstrual health. In many parts of the world, especially in low-income communities, sanitary products are considered a luxury that not everyone can afford. However, they are a fundamental necessity for women who menstruate, playing a critical role in maintaining hygiene, health and dignity.
Over the years, period poverty perpetuates cycles of poverty, as individuals may be forced to choose between purchasing sanitary products or other essential items which in turn leads to absenteeism from school, ultimately affecting educational opportunities and economic productivity. It also results in infections and long-term health consequences.
While luxury sanitary products offer advanced features like self-cleaning technology, antimicrobial properties and eco-friendly materials, essential sanitary products focus on providing basic hygiene and protection.
Sanitary products are not a luxury, but a fundamental necessity for individuals who menstruate, ensuring access to affordable, hygienic, and sustainable sanitary products is crucial for promoting health, education, and economic empowerment.
In an interview with a 15-year-old Igberdse Abosetale Rhoda, an SS2 science student at Oprite Christian International School, she said she has learnt how to make reusable sanitary pads under the leadership of District Governor, Mike Okachi Nwanoshiri, who brought the sensitisation to her school as a result of high sanitary pads.
Rhoda said she has missed school once because she had severe menstrual cramps that make her parents to be overprotective and wanted to take care of her. She thanked organisations like the Rotary Club for their efforts and appealed to the government and other organisations to assist vulnerable communities who cannot afford pads as every female child needs access to this essential resource.
She said when she started menstruating, she told her mom and she was surprised. Her mother told her dad who became furious. My mother then explained how to use pads and manage my menstruation. According to her, the mother taught her how to wear pads properly and emphasised the importance of changing them regularly.
In another interview, Abdurahman Nana Hauwa, a student at Government Secondary School, Kubwa, shared her concerns about the stigma faced by menstruating girls in her community, particularly during fasting periods.
According to her, when girls don’t fast due to menstruation, they are often mocked by their male counterparts, leading to embarrassment and stigmatisation. The situation worsens if they experience a stain on their clothes.
She said to avoid this ugly situation, some girls might resort to making up excuses such as claiming to have a serious illness while some decide to miss school.
“It can be embarrassing when others know I’m menstruating. To avoid questions, I sometimes tell peers I’m not fasting due to other health reasons, like being an ulcer patient,” she said.
Hauwa suggested that religious leaders could play a crucial role in addressing this issue by providing solutions to reduce stigmatisation and promote understanding and support for menstruating girls. She also advocated for greater awareness and understanding, particularly in religious and cultural contexts.
She also said when she started having her menstruation, she told her mom and she was very supportive.
“She advised me on how to manage my menstruation, including using pads and maintaining hygiene and how to take precautions to avoid embarrassment like wearing pads to school and being mindful of my cycle,” she said.
She advised a classmate named Joshima when she started menstruating in school, saying, “I encouraged her to tell her mom and her mom was supportive too. Yes, there’s a stigma. I think girls should be more open about their cycles and manage them better. As for religion, it’s challenging to change the rules but being honest or finding alternative explanations can help.”
Also, Evbotokhai Deborah from the Girl Guides said as a young Nigerian girl, managing menstruation can be challenging, especially considering the high cost of sanitary pads.
“In Girl Guides, we believe that every girl has the right to access good quality menstrual materials. Training like this one on making reusable sanitary pads is invaluable. They provide an affordable and accessible alternative to disposable pads, which can be costly and pose health risks due to plastics and poor biodegradability,” she said.
Deborah said, “This initiative is crucial for keeping girls in school and ensuring they don’t miss out on activities.
“Proper menstrual hygiene is vital, and access to clean water and sanitation facilities is equally important. Without these, girls can experience discomfort, health issues and stigma. Providing reusable sanitary pads is a step towards creating a period-friendly world and Nigeria.
“We need more initiatives like this to educate girls on menstrual health and hygiene, empowering them to take care of themselves with dignity.”
A parent, who’s a counselor at Oprite Christian International School, Mrs. Orilade Aderonke, advised parents and children to ensure that they maintain safe menstrual hygiene. She urged parents to be friends with their female children and start sex education early around age eight or nine.
According to her, “This includes discussing the signs of menstruation and what to expect. When menstruation starts, parents should guide their children on how to manage it and provide support.”
“Parents should not leave their children alone to figure things out; instead, they should be available to offer guidance and support. In some cultures, sanitary pads are made available to girls when they start menstruating, and parents can play a significant role in helping their children navigate this experience,” she said.
According to her, the high cost of sanitary pads can be a significant burden for many families. She suggested that the government should play a supportive role by providing sanitary pads in schools, especially in government schools where parents may struggle to afford them. This would help ensure that all female children have access to this essential resource.
Again, Maria Ochayi, a parent and teacher at the Sprite Christian International School, said, “In our school, we have made sanitary pads available for students in the school. They can access them when needed. As female teachers, we also carry extra pads with us in case students need them during school hours.”
She asked parents, especially mothers, to be close to their female children.
“This way, they can know what’s going on in their lives and provide guidance and support. If parents are approachable and understanding, their daughters will feel comfortable opening up to them,” she said.
She advised the government to make sanitary pads more accessible and affordable, especially in rural areas. They should consider campaigns to provide pads at a cheaper rate, making them more economical for people to purchase. Buying in bulk, such as maximum packs, can also be more cost-effective.
In an interview, an expert in menstrual hygiene management and a coach, Rhoda Sanda-Pewan, said she trains girls and young women on their menstrual health making them to understand that menstruation is not a disease but poor menstrual hygiene is actually what leads to diseases, not just menstruation.
According to her, vulnerable girls who cannot afford the 1,000 pads are “our major targets.”
“You know, there’s a way God made everyone and every girl child’s is very important and very peculiar to us. So what we try to do is to boost the confidence of every girl child, making her confident in the society, being able to contend with her contemporaries and to stand with them.
“Sometimes you realise that these girls in the rural areas find it very difficult to go to school. Most of them miss school during their menstruation days. Some of them make use of very wrong materials during menstruation,” she said.
She maintained that the idea of the reusable pad was so that every girl child could have a sanitary pad, using her hands to produce it. And with that, the main aim is for us to eradicate menstrual poverty. We want every girl child to be confident, not to miss school.”
“We have a slogan which says: ‘our period is our pride’ and ‘There’s no more limits’ meaning there’s no limits to what you can do during your menstruation. Once you have the right material, you are free to do anything you can. The reusable pads are made from materials that you can get within this community.”
She said the pads were made from the normal materials like clothing and they are hygienically safe. They are biodegradable, meaning they are eco-friendly.
“They are not like leather, the normal disposable pad that one throws away and does not decompose over years; it remains the way it is. But this very reusable pad is eco-friendly, meaning it can decompose.
“It is not harmful. These are materials that do not have any preservative, no chemical incentives. So, I stand bold to say the best choice we can think of is the reusable pad,” she said.
The Rotary District 9127 under the leadership of the pioneer District Governor, Mike Ukachi Nwanoshiri, in collaboration with presidents and clubs in the FCT, and fully sponsored by Fragrance Oils International Plc, Manchester, UK, has also successfully trained 400 girls on making reusable menstrual pads to eradicate menstrual poverty and also distributed 400 kits to the girls that participated.
Nwanoshiri, during the skills acquisition training on Friday, penultimate week, in Abuja, said the initiative aimed to promote menstrual hygiene, reduce period poverty, and empower young girls with valuable skills.
He said the training equips girls with the ability to make their own reusable sanitary pads, promotes self-sufficiency and confidence.
According to him, the programme educates girls on safe menstrual practices and hygienic dignity emphasising during their menstrual cycles.
“By providing girls with a sustainable and cost-effective solution to menstrual hygiene, the initiative helps reduce the financial burden with disposable sanitary products. The training empowers girls to take control of their menstrual health, promoting their overall well-being and dignity,” he said.
The Project Director of the Abuja Rotary Presidents and Magic President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Ministers Hill, Rotarian Oro-ghene Adia, said, “Through our adopted school programme, we’ve gathered 400 girls from about 20 schools to train them on making reusable sanitary pads. This skill will enable them to produce their own pads, reducing their reliance on costly disposable products. By acquiring this skill, these girls will benefit from a cost-effective and sustainable solution to menstrual hygiene.”
Also, the President of Abuja Urban, Rotarian Rabi Muhammad, said the skills acquisition is very beneficial, especially for the girl-child. “When I was growing up, I didn’t have the opportunities that girls have now. I believe this initiative is a very good invention, thanks to our district governor. It’s very beneficial for the girl-child,” he said.