FCTA Moves To Fight Menstrual Poverty

• The FCT Administration has partnered with NGOs to combat menstrual poverty, providing menstrual products and hygiene education to young girls
• The initiative, highlighted at the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day event, aims to dispel menstruation myths and reduce related school absences

The FCT Administration (FCTA) has partnered with local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to combat menstrual poverty. The collaboration, spearheaded by the Women Affairs Secretariat, was highlighted during an event in Abuja commemorating the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the FCTA’s Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, revealed the initiative, emphasizing the urgent need to address menstrual poverty, defined as the lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products and water. Represented by Permanent Secretary Alhaji Adetoye Kolawole, she underscored the program’s goal of directly providing menstrual information, sanitary pads, and hygiene products to young girls, especially in local communities.

The “Together for a Period-Friendly World” event was organized in collaboration with the ACIOE Foundation. Ms. Kanyidinofu Oyem, a Gender Specialist at the ACIOE Foundation, stressed the campaign’s importance in dispelling myths about menstruation. She pointed out that many girls miss school due to the taboos surrounding their menstrual cycles.

Nina Opeme, a student at Community Secondary School in Asokoro, expressed hope that the sensitization efforts would help reduce the stigma associated with menstruation.