Many adolescent girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said the onset of menstruation, a natural biological cycle, signals days of missed school, silent anxiety, and exclusion driven by poverty and stigma. They said this in separate interviews on Thursday May 28 to commemorate the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
18-year-old Hannatu Salihu, who lives in Pigba-Kasa, a hard-to-reach community in the Apo area of the FCT, said the rising cost of disposable sanitary products has made menstrual hygiene an unaffordable necessity for many girls like her. Similarly, Rejoice Abaku, a student in Mabushi, described how she improvised with pieces of cloth or tissue paper due to a lack of access to proper menstrual products.
Their situations reflect a broader crisis affecting adolescent girls across underserved communities in the FCT, where thousands of girls miss school monthly due to menstruation.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28 to highlight the importance of menstrual care and raise awareness about the challenges faced by people who lack access to sanitary products. To commemorate the day, some non-governmental organisations intensified sensitisation campaigns across schools in the FCT.
Mrs Oyeyemi Pitan who is Executive Director of Gem Hub Initiative, and also an Educationist, said the fear of staining school uniforms and facing ridicule from peers continued to drive absenteeism among teenage girls. She added that comprehensive menstrual health education should form a fundamental part of school curricula, covering both biological aspects and practical guidance on menstrual health management.
Dr Gabriel Adakole, a public health expert, warned that unsafe menstrual practices increased the risk of infections, including reproductive and urinary tract infection. He also highlighted that inadequate school infrastructure worsened the situation, as many public schools lacked clean water, functional toilets and private spaces for girls to manage menstruation safely.
Mrs. Tina Atala, a lawyer in the FCT and gender advocate, called for urgent interventions to address period poverty and its impact on girls’ education and health. She recommended the provision of free or subsidised sanitary pads, distribution of reusable menstrual products and improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities in schools. She also advocated comprehensive menstrual health education for both boys and teachers to eliminate stigma and promote supportive school environments.
Stakeholders said addressing period poverty, and prioritizing menstrual health as a key component of public health and education policies, was critical to achieving gender equality in education and safeguarding the dignity and health of adolescent girls.
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