Menstrual Health: Group Sensitises Secondary School Girls on Personal Hygiene
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
A non-governmental organisation, African Immigrants Resources Centre, has sensitised students in Rivers State on challenges involved in menstrual health, noting the importance of personal hygiene during menstrual period.
Sensitising the students of Amadi-Ama Community Junior Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, in commemoration of the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration, the group urged them to maintain regular personal hygiene, a way to tackle challenges of menstrual health.
Under its programme “Give a Girl a Pad”, the organisation also distributed pads to over 600 female students of the school.
In her address during the sensitisation, convener of the “Give a Girl a Pad” initiative, Mrs. Chimezie Orji-Kalu said the programme was held to celebrate the achievements of women and girls across the world, adding it also addresses issue that affects the health, dignity, and confidence of the girl child menstrual hygiene.
According to Mrs. Orji-Kalu “The theme of today’s event reminds us that empowering a girl begins with meeting her basic needs and giving her the knowledge and confidence to thrive”.
She said for many girls, menstruation is still surrounded by silence, stigma, and misinformation, “Sadly, some girls miss school or feel ashamed simply because they lack access to sanitary products or proper information about their bodies.
“This is why the “Give a Girl a Pad” initiative exists to ensure that no girl feels embarrassed, unprepared, or left behind because of her natural biological process”.
She urged the girls to understand that menstruation is natural and healthy, and that with proper hygiene practices, the girl-child can continue to pursue her dreams confidently without limitations.
“To our dear girls, you are strong, capable, and full of potential. Your dreams are valid, and nothing not even the challenges associated with menstruation should stop you from achieving greatness”, Mrs. Orji-Kalu advised.
She added “Your commitment to supporting the girl child and promoting menstrual health is a powerful contribution to building a healthier and more confident generation of young women.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us all renew our commitment to supporting girls, breaking harmful taboos around menstruation, and ensuring that every girl has access to menstrual hygiene products, education, and a supportive environment.”
On her part, Coordinator of “Give a Girl a Pad” in Rivers State, Mrs. Doris Nwakuna, noted the purpose for the programme was “to equip the girl child with a pad and secondly, to give them the necessary education that they need, not only to maintain hygiene, but also to know their vital roles in the society.
“They are women of strength and dignity who a lot is expected from. They have great potential and should not be intimidated in society and to move with that stride to fulfill their dreams in life.
“Our targets were achieved because we had time. We were able to talk to the girl children. They paid attention and we educated them and then we gave out the pads. We met about 600 students”, she added.
Some of the students that spoke with journalists at the event commended the organisation for the impactful sensitisation, also for giving out free sanitary pads to them.
Meanwhile, the school principal, Dr. Mina Wakama, commending the organisaton said, “On behalf of the Management Community Secondary School of Amadi-Ama, we say a very big thank you for choosing our school. There are so many schools around, but you decided that it has to be CSS at Amadi-Ama.
“Normally, when things go for children, I do not stop it because you don’t know where the child will gain or get whatever the child wants to achieve. Thank you for impacting the children and thank you for the gifts. I’m very sure by tomorrow when we call them at the assembly, we’ll be able to hear one or two that they’ve received, they’ve gained”.
