Abuja: The African Immigrants Resources Centre (AIRC), through its Give A Girl A Pad (GAGAP) initiative, has distributed menstrual hygiene products to girls in selected schools in the FCT and Nasarawa State to tackle period poverty. The intervention aims to improve menstrual hygiene, support girls’ health and education, and ensure access to sanitary products for vulnerable students in underserved communities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Convener of GAGAP, Mrs. Chimezie Oji-Kalu, announced that the distribution at Redeemer Schools, Karu and Aunty Alice Schools, Mararaba, marked the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration activities. Oji-Kalu, represented by Mrs. Rita Egbuta, FCT and Nasarawa state GAGAP Coordinator, emphasized that the program is part of efforts to promote menstrual hygiene awareness and support girls’ health and education through targeted school-based outreach activities.
The initiative focuses on breaking the silence surrounding menstruation and promoting menstrual hygien
e among adolescent girls through education, support, and access to safe and hygienic menstrual products across communities. ‘Menstruation is a natural process, but it can be a source of shame, stigma, and discomfort for many girls. By providing sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene education, we aim to reduce absenteeism, promote girls’ education, and empower them to take control of their health,’ Oji-Kalu stated.
The organization has reached thousands of girls across the country through its menstrual hygiene intervention programs, with over 1,400 girls in Abuja and Nasarawa State receiving sanitary pads in May alone. Additionally, more than 300 girls benefitted from similar interventions in Abia, with sanitary pads distributed to 5,000 girls and women in Imo, 500 girls in Lagos, and 1,200 students in Rivers.
However, Oji-Kalu identified inadequate funding and limited access to schools and vulnerable communities as significant challenges affecting the sustainability and expansion of the menstrual hygiene inte
rvention program across the country. ‘We rely on donations, grants, and support from public-spirited individuals and organizations. We urge governments, development partners, corporate organizations, and philanthropists to partner with us in promoting menstrual hygiene and supporting girls’ education,’ she added.
Mrs. Angela Igboanugo, Media Personnel of GAGAP, highlighted that the outreach focused on educating girls on menstrual hygiene management, personal safety, and the importance of prioritizing education and maintaining proper hygiene during menstruation. ‘We taught them that menstruation is a natural occurrence and they should not be ashamed of it. We also advised them to focus on their education and understand the importance of personal hygiene, including changing sanitary pads regularly and keeping themselves clean,’ she noted.
Mrs. Franca Ejembi, a representative of the host school, commended the organization for the intervention, describing it as timely and impactful, especially for girls from lo
w-income households struggling to access sanitary pads. ‘Some parents are able to provide sanitary pads for their children, but there are still girls from poor backgrounds who struggle,’ she remarked.