By Nafisat Makinde
As Nigeria commemorates the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, 2025, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, emphasized that menstrual health is a public health concern, a matter of human rights, and a national development imperative. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld”, a call to action to ensure access to information, services, products, and environments that allow women and girls to live their lives fully, without interruption or shame.
The Minister highlighted the challenges faced by millions of Nigerian girls and women, including limited access to affordable menstrual products, inadequate WASH facilities, and persistent stigma. To address these challenges, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has implemented several strategic interventions, including ¹:
- Advocacy for National Policy: Advocacy for the National Policy and Strategic Framework on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM)
- Pad Banks: Campaigns for the establishment of pad banks in workplaces and public institutions
- Menstrual Equity: Advocacy for menstrual equity across states and communities
- Mainstreaming Menstrual Hygiene Education: Collaboration with Ministries of Education, Health, and Water Resources to mainstream menstrual hygiene education
- Affordable Sanitary Products: Support for the production of affordable and reusable sanitary products
Organizations such as WaterAid Nigeria and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria are also working to promote menstrual health equity. WaterAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Evelyn Mere, called for urgent action to promote menstrual health equity, stating that “no one should miss school, feel ashamed, or be unsafe simply because they are menstruating”. AHF Nigeria, on the other hand, is committed to ending period poverty in Nigeria through consistent investment in initiatives that bridge the knowledge gap in menstrual health management among young women and girls ¹ ².
Key Statistics:
- 500 million people globally experience period poverty, lacking access to menstrual health products, safe and clean facilities, and supportive communities
- 68 million people in Nigeria lack access to basic drinking water services
- 113 million people in Nigeria lack decent toilets
- 48 million people in Nigeria practice open defecation
- Only 10% of the population in Nigeria has access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services
As Nigeria works towards creating a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, it’s essential to prioritize menstrual health equity, challenge harmful taboos, and ensure access to information, services, and products that promote dignity and well-being for all women and girls.
