600 girls get sanitary pads to end period poverty

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has distributed free sanitary pads to 600 girls in its effort to fight period poverty as the world marks this year’s Menstrual Health Day (MHD).

Steve Aborisade, Advocacy & Marketing Manager of AHF Nigeria, harped on ending period poverty during the event held to mark the MHD at Agyogoyo Angwan-Jukun community in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

He said in order to eliminate the harmful stigma surrounding menstruation which keeps women and menstruating people of all ages from thriving, governments at all levels and partners must join hands together with AHF to make it a reality.

“We are here today to demonstrate what we want the government to do. We have to end period poverty and the government must invest in the lives of these young ones,” he said.

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The AHF official explained that it was in line with the advocacy to end period poverty that the foundation simultaneously distributed the 600 sanitary pads to girls in three states – Benue, Akwa Ibom and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Earlier, Dr Eche Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, in a statement made available to Daily Trust in Makurdi, noted that, “Young women and girls, irrespective of their location or social status, must be able to have their periods in a safe and conducive environment and without the difficulties that a lack of access to sanitary products presently constitutes.”