Governments at all levels, along with corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians, have been urged to step up efforts in empowering young girls with science-based menstrual health education, dispelling harmful myths, and ensuring access to essential personal hygiene products.
FAB Treasure Foundation emphasized the urgent need to break the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation, noting its harmful impact on young girls’ confidence and their ability to engage equally with peers in other environments.
Abigail Festus, the Founder of FAB Treasure Foundation made the call to action on Thursday during a menstrual health outreach at Debmark Great Academy in Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, where she stressed the importance of ensuring that access to menstrual education is not limited by geography or socio-economic status.
The outreach organized by FAB Treasure Foundation in partnership with The Girl Force Movement and Rejoice George Outreach was in commemoration of this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, themed ‘Redefining Menstrual Conversation.’
Festus explained that the outreach was fueled by a shared passion for empowering young girls and equipping them with the knowledge and confidence they deserve.
“This is because we are driven and deeply committed to educating and empowering young girls because it is our firm belief that menstrual education and access to sanitary pads should never be determined by location or circumstance,” she noted.
The outreach, she explained, was not based on assumptions that the students lacked awareness, but rather on a desire to give them a safe space to learn, unlearn, and gain confidence.
“Many young girls grow up surrounded by misconceptions that silence them, hold them back, or make them feel ashamed of a natural process.
“Our aim is to equip them with knowledge that will help them navigate menstruation in a way that is healthy, informed, and stigma-free,” she said.
Emphasizing the need for a concerted effort of all stakeholders to be involved in such an Initiative, Festus said that is why her Foundation has continued to be involved since it started the journey of empowering the girl-child.
According to her, the FAB Treasure Foundation, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary this August, has reached over 10,000 women and girls with menstrual health education and sanitary pads since its inception.
Sharing her own upbringing that shaped her passion for this cause, she said, “I grew up in a community, attended an average school, and didn’t have access to menstrual education or sanitary pads. So I understand firsthand what it means to be a girl child in a community like this.”
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Looking ahead, the Founder of FAB Treasure Foundation explained that she is inspired to do more, stressing, “Seeing the smiles on the faces of the girls and the impact we’ve made here today, we’re fired up to go even harder.
“We’re taking this initiative to more schools and rural communities so that girls can talk about periods loud, proud, and unashamed”.
The Executive Director of The Girl Force Movement, Mrs. Winifred Ereyi, underscored the significance of supporting girls through education and access to hygiene products.
“Menstruation is natural, and young girls shouldn’t be left without the education and resources needed to manage their periods safely and hygienically.
“We need to support girls to stay in school and freely engage in their daily activities without the fear of being stoned.”
On her part, the Founder of the Rejoice George Outreach echoed similar sentiments, advocating for more partnerships and awareness, saying, “I’m glad that more organizations and individuals are coming together to raise awareness about menstruation.
“By 2030, I’m hopeful that we will have normalised menstrual conversation. A period-friendly world is possible and achievable, and that’s why I’m investing my resources to see it happen in our generation.”
Farida Iyere, the School’s Head Prefect, expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that she learned many valuable lessons.
“The outreach has been both enlightening and empowering for us as individuals, the lessons learnt here I believe, are invaluable,” the Head Girl said.
Gideon Miracle, the school’s sanitary prefect, echoed the sentiment, adding that the session deepened her understanding of menstrual hygiene.
Rabyat Aliyu, Head of Department (Humanities) at the school, described the event as a milestone in the school’s effort to empower its female students.
“I want to really appreciate FAB Treasure Foundation for what they have done today.
“It has been impactful, especially in this generation where parents no longer have time for their teenagers.
“What this NGO has done is touching. As a woman, I know how challenging menstruation was when I started. It was not like this.”
Highlights of the outreach included a comprehensive health education session, a quiz competition on menstruation to assess the students’ knowledge, a storytelling segment to encourage girls to speak confidently about their experiences, and the distribution of menstrual pads to all participants.