Dr. Nonye Soludo, the Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, unveiled a groundbreaking initiative on Wednesday, as she introduced the menstrual pad bank in 400 secondary schools. The initiative aims to provide girls with easy access to sanitary pads during their monthly menstrual cycles.
The launch of the pad bank took place in Awka and was organised to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child, observed every October 11. This day serves as a platform to address the challenges faced by girls, promote their empowerment, and ensure the fulfilment of their human rights.
This year’s theme for the commemoration is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-Being.”
Dr. Soludo emphasised the importance of promoting hygiene, nutrition, and self-development among girls, particularly those in the low-income class. She stated, “In the area of hygiene, we are also looking at menstrual hygiene and the overall health education of women and girls.”
The menstrual pad bank initiative will be rolled out in over 400 secondary schools across Anambra where Healthy Living Clubs are established. Dr. Soludo noted that access to sanitary pads remains a significant concern in rural households and becomes even more critical during menstrual emergencies at schools. The initiative aims to address these pressing issues by providing sanitary pads to young girls.
Over 1,000 sanitary pad packs will be distributed to kickstart the campaign and subsequent distributions will occur at the beginning of each academic term, ensuring ongoing support throughout the school year. Dr. Soludo believes that this gesture will boost the confidence of the girl-child, eliminate stigmas associated with menstrual emergencies, and enable girls to manage their menstrual cycles with dignity.
Miss Adaora Soludo, the governor’s daughter, encouraged girls to acquire essential skills early in life, including communication skills, problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and confidence. She emphasised the importance of becoming problem solvers and self-reliant individuals who can adapt and overcome life’s challenges.
Ms. Chinwe Okolie, an ICT expert, encouraged girls to leverage the state government’s Solution Innovation District to acquire information and communication technology skills. She stressed the relevance of digital skills in today’s world and urged girls to empower themselves with technology to secure their futures and livelihoods.
