By Khalid Idris Doya
Schoolgirls in Bauchi State have benefited from 10,000 disposable sanitary pads donated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
The donation followed the launch of the Flow with Confidence initiative, through which 370,000 disposable sanitary pads are being distributed to schoolgirls across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony held yesterday at the Government House, Bauchi, and themed "Empowering Schoolgirls Through Menstrual Health" under the Renewed Hope Initiative, Bauchi State First Lady and North-East Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, said the initiative is being implemented nationwide to ensure that no girl misses school because of menstruation.
Aisha explained that at the end of the exercise, 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities across the country would receive a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads.
She further disclosed that the Renewed Hope Initiative expended N2,550,250,000 to procure the customised sanitary pads from Uniglory Nigeria Limited, a local manufacturing company based in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
According to her, each state received 10,000 sanitary pads for distribution to schoolgirls, a gesture she noted would significantly support girls' health and academic continuity.
In her remarks, Hajiya Zuwaira Y. M. Baba, Gender Desk Officer at the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, educated the students on menstrual hygiene. She explained that menstruation typically occurs every 22 to 32 days and stressed the importance of proper sanitary pad usage for personal hygiene and health.
She commended the First Lady for the initiative and urged teachers to encourage students to use the sanitary pads appropriately.
In his welcome address, the Bauchi State commissioner for education, Dr. Muhammad Lawan Rimin Zayam, said the initiative aligns with the government's commitment to ensuring that no girl is denied education due to natural biological processes.
He added that empowering girls through improved menstrual health would enhance academic performance and contribute to the overall development of the state.
Rimin Zayam noted that menstrual health challenges among girls directly impact the education sector, stressing that the initiative marks the beginning of sustained menstrual health awareness, improved school attendance, and stronger partnerships to advance girl-child education in Bauchi State.
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