By John Ikani
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Nigeria has launched a Menstrual Pad Bank to carter for the needs of women and girls during their monthly period.
The Minister, Mrs Pauline Tallen, said at the launching in Abuja that the programme was part of activities to mark the 2021 Menstrual Hygiene Day.
According to her, the ministry had set up a committee to ensure that adolescents girls and women of reproductive ages are able to manage their menstrual cycle with dignity.
What the Minister said about pad banks
“A Pad Bank is today instituted in the Ministry and it will serve as a model for all Public Institutions, including ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), Hotels, Banks and indeed even in supermarkets and open markets.
“This is to enable girls’ anywhere and everywhere to have access to pad in times of emergencies, when suddenly they experience their monthly flow which can come at any point in time without warning,” she said.
She therefore called on stakeholders to replicate the gesture by establishing menstrual pad bank in their facilities.
About Menstrual Hygiene Day
Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management at a global level. It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2014.
This Year’s event themed, “We need to Step Up Action and Investment in Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Now”, is aimed at making sanitary pads available at all times for emergency use.
