Period Poverty and Policy: Students and NGOs Call for Government Action
On May 28, 2024, Feminine Voices, in collaboration with We the People and the Red Cross, organized an event at Bakassi Government School, Calabar to address menstrual hygiene management. The event themed “Together for a Period-Friendly World,” targeted junior and senior secondary students, educating them on proper menstrual hygiene practices.
The day was led by alumni of the Rights Academy, Mercy Ironbar and Comfort Umoh, who moderated the sessions that included interactive discussions, educational presentations, and practical demonstrations on the use of sanitary products over unhygienic alternatives like cloth pieces. They emphasized the health risks associated with poor menstrual hygiene and discussed the economic barriers to accessing sanitary products, advocating for reduced value added tax (VAT) and increased government subsidies
The students participated actively, expressing concerns about the affordability of menstrual products and suggesting governmental interventions. The event concluded with a consensus on the need for ongoing menstrual hygiene education within the school curriculum and for policy changes to make sanitary products more accessible.
