In both rural and urban areas in Nigeria, hundreds and thousands of school girls struggle with period poverty. Many of them skip school during their monthly periods because they lack the basic items for menstrual hygiene. These include sanitary pads, water, soap and even food to eat. There are neither safe spaces to change their menstrual pads nor water to freshen up in between classes, there is therefore no period dignity.

There is also period stigmatisation and shaming when girls suffer menstrual pain or get stained during school hours. For these reasons and more, many girls ultimately drop out completely from school. 

Every woman, and men who have women in their lives, can relate with the challenges females deal with during menstruation. Girls grow into women who perpetuate mankind. We therefore need to educate the girl child that the biological demands on her during monthly periods is neither a distraction nor disruption to her education. We need to address the fact that period poverty causes shame and stigmatisation which keeps girls out of school; and erodes their self esteem.

Our girls must stop using foam cut from mattresses, rags, leaves and cloth cut from their wrappers to manage their menstrual blood because sanitary towels are expensive and they cannot afford them.

When governments at all levels get involved and augment the sanitary needs of adolescent girls in primary and secondary schools, public perception, and long held discriminatory beliefs around monthly period will certainly change. 

Let's push for the Nigerian Federal government to provide two packs of sustainable sanitary pads every month for the girl child in Nigerian secondary schools. Nigeria can afford it! Our legislators need to act now. #myperiodmypride #freesanitarypadsforgirls #endperiodpoverty  #girlsmatterinNigeria #menstrualdignityforgirls #naijalawmakersendperiodpoverty