- Tackling menstrual flow challenge among adolescent girls
BY UBON EKANEM. CALABAR – The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey has floated a pet project ‘Pad Bank Mobile Community Outreach’ (PABMCO) with the aim of creating awareness and empowering young girls on proper management of their menstrual cycles.
The ‘Pad Bank Mobile Community Outreach’, launched at Adiabo Community in Odukpani Local Government Area of the State, attracted more than 300 young girls as participants.
The occasion featured health talks on personal hygiene during menstruation as well as practical demonstration on the safe methods of using sanitary pads to control menstrual flow.
Speaking at the occasion, Comrade Bassey said the idea behind the project was borne out of her desire to empower young girls under menstruation flow to carry themselves with dignity and pride, instead of feeling ashamed due to circumstances propped up by nature among the female folks.
Comrade Bassey said the focus is on tackling pressing issues around menstrual health and hygiene management for women and girls, especially those in underserved and hard-to-reach communities while also seeking to provide vitamins and supplements that can boost their health.
She lamented that most times young girls under menstruation stay out of schools due to shame and lack of self dignity, maintaining that the society must encourage them as underserved citizens
The NUJ Chairman noted that with the current harsh economic conditions in the country, most parents can hardly afford to buy pads for their female children.
She further said the unfortunate situation has forced such girls to rely on unhygienic materials, like cotton wools, tissue papers and in worst cases rags to replace pads, not minding the health hazards associated with adopting such approach to menstrual control and management.
Comrade Archibong, who appealed for sponsorship from government institutions, development partners, corporate sponsors, faith-based organizations, and well-meaning individuals, said aim is to sustain the vision and achieve its set target of distributing not less than 8000 sanitary pads to young girls in 12 communities across the State.
For her, robust partnerships and sponsorships are necessary to expand the project’s reach and ensure that no girl or woman is neglected due to lack of access to basic menstrual hygiene needs.
A beneficiary of the sanitary towel distribution outreach, Miss Miracle Etim Effiong thanked the NUJ Chairman for her vision and concern about the girl child.
She stressed that their self-confidence on how to flow with pride and dignity during menstrual period has been boosted with the encouragement and enlightenment lecture delivered and the pads distribution campaign.
Miss Miracle which she acknowledged as the first time they are being exposed to such self enhancing menstrual management method.
The PadBank Mobile Outreach was part of activities marking the World Humanitarian Day 2025 on August 19 with the theme; 2025 theme, #ActForHumanity.
It celebrated the spirit of service, compassion, and sacrifice that humanitarian actors demonstrate daily in communities globally.
