World Menstrual Hygiene Day: MWAN, Partners Reach Over 1,000 Benue Students with Pads, Health Education

From Dooshima Terkura Makurdi

The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Benue State chapter, in collaboration with several partner organizations, has distributed menstrual hygiene kits, including sanitary pads, and reusable pads to more than 1,000 students across schools in Benue State as part of activities marking the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The initiative, which targeted both girls and boys, combined the distribution of menstrual hygiene materials with extensive sensitization on menstrual health, dignity, and education.

The programme aimed to improve understanding of menstruation, challenge harmful stereotypes, and encourage supportive attitudes among young people.

Speaking at the event, MWAN Chairperson, Dr. Doofan Ayatse-Agishi, said the awareness campaign was designed to equip students with accurate information about menstrual health and hygiene.

She noted that the programme focused on education and counselling to encourage healthy practices and promote informed decision-making among adolescents.

According to her, the exercise also featured the distribution of menstrual hygiene kits, myth-busting sessions, and interactive discussions intended to address misconceptions surrounding menstruation.

She said the campaign sought to improve health outcomes, promote dignity, and empower young people with the knowledge needed to support positive menstrual health practices.

Also speaking, Dr. Angelina Shie-Dominick urged girls to maintain proper personal hygiene during menstruation stating that menstruation is not a bad omen.

She advised them to their bathe regularly, change their sanitary pads frequently, and avoid wearing a single pad for extended periods to reduce the risk of infections and discomfort.

Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Benue State chapter, Elizabeth Achagh, demonstrated the correct use of sanitary pads and stressed the need for schools to provide facilities that enable girls to manage menstruation with dignity.

She called on school authorities to ensure the availability of clean toilets and running water within school premises noting that adequate sanitation facilities are essential for promoting menstrual hygiene and helping girls remain comfortable and confident during their monthly periods.

She emphasized that a supportive school environment can significantly improve the wellbeing and academic participation of female students.

Other resource persons, including Blessing Ityohuun of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum and Ihechi Olarewaju of FIDA, encouraged students to view menstruation as a normal biological process rather than a source of shame.

They urged boys to support their female counterparts and help eliminate stigma associated with menstruation.

Olarewaju challenged several cultural misconceptions about menstruation, including beliefs that menstruating girls are unclean, incapable of participating in sports, or should be restricted from certain activities.

She encouraged girls not to allow such myths to limit their ambitions or participation in school and social life, stressing that menstruation should not prevent girls from attending school or engaging in activities they enjoy.

Instead, she advised them to seek guidance and support whenever they encounter challenges related to their menstrual health.

Students who benefited from the programme expressed appreciation to the organizers for both the educational sessions and the donated materials.

Tyolumun Doose of UBE Junior Secondary School, students of Holy Ghost Junior Secondary School, and Safiya Ibrahim and Rabi’atu Bashir of Arabic College, Makurdi, and those at UBE Junior Secondary School, Ichwa, described the initiative as timely and impactful.

A 13-year-old Abubakar Nasir pledged to become an advocate for menstrual health awareness, saying he would educate his younger sister when she grows older.

Principals of participating schools, including Priscilla Iorchir of Holy Ghost Junior Secondary School and Yahaya Abu of Arabic College, commended the organizers for their intervention and promised to continue promoting a supportive environment for girls.

The Chairperson of the Women Wing of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Benue State, Hajia Hauwa Isah, also described the programme as timely and significant and appreciated them for empowering girls and boys in her community.

The event was organized by MWAN in partnership with Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI), Tearfund, NAWOJ, the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF), Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF), the Nigerian Medical Students Association, and other stakeholders committed to advancing menstrual health and girls’ empowerment.