UNICEF urges improved access to menstrual hygiene for girls

To mark the 2025 Menstrual Hygiene Day, UNICEF has urged increased efforts to ensure adolescent girls have access to menstrual hygiene education and facilities.

Speaking during a sensitisation session at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Lambu, in Tofa Local Government Area, Stella Okafor-Terver, UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) officer, emphasized that proper menstrual hygiene is vital for the health, education, and overall well-being of girls.

Okafor-Terver highlighted the need for a coordinated approach involving government, civil society, and other stakeholders to provide girls with the knowledge, materials, and infrastructure necessary for safe and dignified menstruation management.

989,000 children in Kano have no access to education — UNICEF

“The onset of menstruation should be a source of pride, not shame. Menstruation is a natural and healthy process, not a disease,” she stated. She also encouraged girls experiencing delayed menstruation beyond the expected age to seek medical advice through their parents or guardians.

She further stressed the importance of breaking menstrual stigma and called on governments, religious leaders, and male community members to actively support girls by ensuring access to sanitary products and period-friendly facilities in schools and public spaces.

“Menstruation should never be a barrier to a girl’s education, healthcare, or future opportunities,” Okafor-Terver added.

In support of the campaign, the traditional ruler of Lambu community, Dagachi Muhammed Wambai, reaffirmed that Islam views menstruation as a natural process and condemned any form of discrimination related to it.

“In our community, we stand by our girls and provide them with proper education. There is no shame in menstruation—it is a part of life,” he said.

Sadiya Ahmad, principal of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Lambu, noted that the school plays an active role in supporting its students by supplying free sanitary pads and promoting menstrual hygiene awareness.

“We keep at least 100 packs of sanitary pads in stock at all times. Our students are encouraged to use them, and we ensure they receive the right hygiene education,” she said.