Anambra First Lady launches initiative, gives 10,000 sanitary pads to schoolgirls

The First Lady of Anambra State, Nonye Soludo, has distributed 10,000 packs of sanitary pads to female students in secondary schools across the state as part of her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo programme.

At a ceremony in Awka, Mrs. Soludo said the initiative aims to ensure that no girl misses school due to menstruation. She emphasized that the rising cost of sanitary products has forced some girls to use unhygienic alternatives, which can lead to infections and school absenteeism.

“Every girl in Anambra deserves access to menstrual hygiene products. We are committed to supporting them so they can learn confidently and without fear,” she said.

The sanitary pads were distributed through “pad bank” facilities set up in schools under the programme. The First Lady explained that this pilot project will be expanded to cover more schools, with regular replenishment of the pads each term.

School authorities and parents were called upon to take menstrual hygiene seriously, integrating it into health education to support girls’ health, confidence, and academic performance.

The initiative seeks to address both access and dignity, ensuring that menstruation does not interrupt a girl’s education. According to the programme’s findings, lack of access to proper menstrual products has been a major cause of absenteeism among female students in Nigeria.

“Pad banks in schools are a simple but effective solution to keep girls in class and reduce stigma around menstruation,” Mrs. Soludo added.

The First Lady promised that the programme would continue to expand, providing sustainable access to menstrual hygiene products for girls across Anambra State.