The Women’s Right and Health Project (WRAHP), a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Thursday conducted an awareness campaign on menstrual health for students at Seed of Messiah Secondary School in Lagos.
The initiative took place on school premises as part of WRAHP’s Scaling-up Menstrual Health Management Initiative across the Oshodi-Isolo, Eti-Osa, Badagry, and Ikorodu Local Government Areas, with support from the Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation.
Bose Ironsi, team leader at WRAHP and managers of the Ireti Resource Centre, emphasized the importance of continuous education on menstrual health.
“Knowledge is power, so we must continuously provide information to help people understand what is happening in society,” she said.
Ironsi highlighted that educating not only students but also teachers and parents is crucial to ensure accurate understanding and informed decision-making.
“This is not a one-off event; it is an ongoing programme that depends on available resources,” she added, noting plans to reach approximately 400 students at another school the following day.
Chidera Ironsi, WRAHP’s Human Resources and Operations Officer, stressed the need to break the stigma surrounding menstruation.
“There is often a belief that boys should not learn about menstruation, but it is important for them because they have sisters, cousins, mothers, and will eventually have daughters. This knowledge supports their overall health and hygiene,” she said.
Representing the ACT Foundation, programme executive Mrs. Temitope Oladunjoye explained that the foundation partners with organizations like WRAHP to fund health projects aimed at improving the lives of young people and communities.
She noted that this one-year project, which began in August, targets more than 122 communities across Africa.
Dr. Rose Okogbue, proprietress of Seed of Messiah Secondary Schools, welcomed the sensitization program, saying it has helped demystify menstruation.
“The girls are more at ease, and the boys now understand that it is a natural part of life, not something shameful,” she said.
Okogbue expressed hope that this would become a continuous effort to empower students to discuss menstrual health more openly, even beyond the school environment.
Principal Mr. Obi James also praised the programme, noting the importance of including boys in conversations about menstrual health to enable them to support their sisters and female relatives.
“We need to keep talking about this issue, and I call on parents to join in these conversations,” he urged.
James revealed that the school has incorporated the materials provided by the NGO into its library and established a bimonthly Gender Forum for both boys and girls.
“We look forward to partnering further with the organizers,” he added.
Student participant Blessing Omoniyi shared her learning experience, stating, “I’ve learned that we should support friends going through menstrual pain by offering help, such as asking if they need sanitary pads.”
She advocated for teaching that menstruation is not shameful but something to be proud of.
The program marks a significant step toward dismantling menstrual stigma and promoting reproductive health education among secondary school students in Lagos.
