The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has launched a menstrual pad bank to carter for the needs of women and girls during their monthly period in emergency situations.
The Minister, Dame Pauline Tallen performed the ceremony as part of activities to mark the 2021 World Menstrual Hygiene Day with a theme, ” it is time for Action to ensure girls and women dont feel limited by their period through increased education on Menstrual Hygiene”.
According to her, the ministry had set up a committee to ensure that adolescent girls and women of reproductive age are able to manage their menstrual cycle with dignity.
“A Pad Bank is today instituted in the Ministry and it will serve as a
model for all Public Institutions including MDAs, Hotels, Banks and indeed even in supermarkets and open markets. This is to enable girls’ anywhere and everywhere to have access to pad in times of emergencies, when suddenly they experience their monthly flow which can come at any point in time without warning,” she said.
Dame Pauline Tallen further called on stakeholders to replicate the gesture by establishing menstrual pad bank in their facilities.
UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Comfort Lamptey stressed the need for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, particularly in schools to eliminate reasons girls dont attend schools during their monthly period.
Lamptey, represented by the National Program Officer Mrs. Patience Ekeoba called for increased funding to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to enable them achieve their mandates on issues of women and children.
Speaking on behalf on Women in Area one IDPs camp, Miss Fatima Mohammed, decried lack of access to sanitary items, especially water and pads during their monthly period and appealed for the provision of health and sanitary facilities.
The event featured the distribution of sanitary pads, writing materials, towels and other items to female students in FCT, children with special needs and some girls from the IDP camp.
RADIO NIGERIA