Promoting Menstrual Dignity and Education

The Prestige Elite Club of Nigeria has called for an end to the stigma, silence, and misinformation surrounding menstruation, asserting that no girl should be excluded from school or disadvantaged due to her menstrual cycle. The advocacy was part of the club’s "Pad a Girl Campaign" held at Festac Girls Junior and Senior Secondary School in Lagos.

Under the theme, “Menstrual Health: Empowering Girls, Breaking Barriers,” hundreds of female students were provided with free sanitary pads and practical lessons on menstrual hygiene. The initiative aims to address the challenges many girls face, including missing school or experiencing embarrassment due to inadequate access to sanitary products.

Today, we say enough is enough. Menstrual health is not just about hygiene; it is about dignity, education, equality and empowerment. When a girl has access to safe sanitary products, accurate information and a supportive environment, she is free to pursue her dreams without interruption.

— Maureen Anyanwu, Vice-President, Prestige Elite Club of Nigeria

Breaking Barriers Through Awareness

Speaking on behalf of the club’s President, Ukhun Ehidiamen Anthony, Vice-President Maureen Anyanwu described menstruation as a natural and healthy part of life that has been unnecessarily surrounded by shame. She emphasized that the campaign was designed to break barriers created by ignorance and inequality through direct education and the provision of essential products.

Anyanwu referenced the annual World Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed on May 28, to remind stakeholders that periods are a fact of life rather than a barrier to it. She urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to continue providing the necessary resources and support to allow girls to thrive without fear of exclusion.

Your period is a thing of pride. It is not something you should be ashamed of or something you should not want to talk about. Talk about it, learn and gain experiences from people who are more experienced, and then you will grow.

— Maureen Anyanwu, Vice-President, Prestige Elite Club of Nigeria

Practical Lessons in Menstrual Hygiene

During the event, Wonan Elizabeth, representing the She Sparks Empowerment Initiative, provided the students with comprehensive education on personal cleanliness. She detailed specific hygiene protocols, including the necessity of changing sanitary pads every four to six hours and washing hands before and after the process to prevent infections.

Elizabeth further advised the students on health management and disposal methods. Key recommendations included: - Maintaining regular bathing habits to prevent odor. - Washing underwear immediately after use. - Managing menstrual cramps through warm baths, hydration, and healthy meals. - Consuming foods rich in iron and magnesium, such as beans, bananas, and nuts. - Avoiding the use of tissue paper as a substitute for sanitary pads.

She also cautioned the students against flushing pads down the toilet to avoid blocking drainage systems, advising instead that used products be wrapped in paper and placed in a nylon bag before disposal in a waste bin.

Institutional Support and Community Service

Mrs. Akinyemi AF, the Principal of Festac Girls Senior Secondary School, commended the Prestige Elite Club of Nigeria for their humanitarian efforts. She noted that the program had received the necessary government approval and highlighted the importance of such interventions in the lives of the students.

I want to really appreciate them for this humanitarian work they are doing. Service to humanity is the greatest service you can render. It is not as if your parents do not provide sanitary pads for you, but they want to be a part of your life.

— Mrs. Akinyemi AF, Principal, Festac Girls Senior Secondary School

The principal urged the students to utilize the knowledge and products provided, expressing hope that they would eventually contribute back to society. This campaign follows a similar initiative previously conducted by the club at Navy Town Junior Secondary School in Lagos, marking a continued effort to promote menstrual health awareness across the region.