MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY OUTREACH
As part of its ongoing commitment to health, dignity, and gender equality, the ABAK Peace Foundation commemorated the World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, 2025, with a strategic outreach to Aliyu Mustafa College, Yola Town. This activity targeted adolescent girls with the aim of breaking the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation, while promoting menstrual health and personal hygiene. The outreach focused on raising awareness, providing education, and supporting menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among schoolgirls. Through an interactive health session led by professionals, the students were taught about the biological realities of menstruation, hygiene best practices, and the importance of managing menstruation with dignity and confidence. In furtherance of its humanitarian mandate, the Foundation distributed essential hygiene kits to the girls, which included: • Sanitary pads • Soap • Detergent • Underwear This intervention was both timely and impactful, addressing several challenges commonly associated with poor menstrual hygiene, such as: • School absenteeism • Increased vulnerability to infections • Low self-esteem and psychological distress • Social exclusion due to entrenched cultural taboos The outreach aligns with the Foundation’s Health and Nutrition, Education, and Protection pillars, and serves as a practical step toward achieving gender equity and inclusive development in Northern Nigeria. Key Challenges Identified: • Limited awareness and education on reproductive health • Inadequate access to sanitary materials among disadvantaged girls • Persistent cultural taboos discouraging open conversations • Infrastructural gaps in school WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities The Way Forward: ABAK Peace Foundation is committed to: • Expanding menstrual hygiene awareness campaigns to other schools and rural areas • Partnering with public and private stakeholders to improve menstrual health education • Advocating for inclusive school infrastructure and sustainable hygiene product access This activity is one of the many ways the ABAK Peace Foundation continues to demonstrate its vision of building a peaceful and progressive society where every girl is equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to thrive.