Abuja: Wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has announced the establishment of pad banks in 300 schools across the state as part of her Healthy Living Initiative project. This initiative aims to support schoolgirls who may face academic disruptions due to menstruation and related emergencies.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Soludo made this announcement in a message from Awka on Wednesday to commemorate the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day. She emphasized the importance of providing immediate solutions for menstrual emergencies in schools, enabling girls to confidently access the pad banks when caught off guard.
Mrs. Soludo highlighted official data indicating that approximately 37 million women and girls in Nigeria cannot afford sanitary pads, relying instead on unhygienic alternatives. This data aligns with findings from the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund, showing that inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure significantly hampers safe and dignified menstruation for women and girls. Furthermore, she noted that only two in five schools globally provide menstrual health education, and just one in three have facilities for menstrual waste disposal.
She urged stakeholders to intensify campaigns to reach more women and girls facing menstrual hygiene challenges. As the demand for menstrual support grows, Mrs. Soludo stressed the need for a revised campaign strategy to address these issues effectively.
Mrs. Soludo reaffirmed that menstrual health is a right for every girl-child and encouraged students at participating schools to utilize the pad banks with confidence. She assured them that her NGO is committed to restocking any pad banks that run low on sanitary supplies.
