By Favour Adinya
The BrenCare Foundation has joined the rest of the world to mark the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day in Cross River State, distributing sanitary pads.
Held on May 29th (not World Menstrual Hygiene Day of 28th May) at Government Secondary School, Ikot Edem Odo, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state, with the theme: “Together for a Period-Friendly Cross River State”, aimed to educate and empower adolescent girls on the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, while also addressing the stigma surrounding menstruation in rural communities.
The Program Manager of the non-governmental organization, Rachel Idim, in a welcome address, highlighted the organization’s core mission, which is geared to equip adolescents and young people with information and skills to make informed choices about their future and to be free from all forms of violence and exploitation.
Speaking on the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Rachel explained the significance of the day, representing the average 28-day menstrual cycle and the average 5-day duration of menstruation. “This marks the date coined for celebrating MHD. This year’s event was particularly noteworthy as it reached girls in a rural community.”
Mayowa Adebajo from Mediatrix Development Foundation delivered a goodwill message, encouraging students to take advantage of the learning opportunities presented during the event.
The students were enjoined to speak and open up, especially as it relates to menstrual hygiene, because it is not a taboo topic.
The session included practical demonstrations on how to use disposable and reusable sanitary pads, addressing common misconceptions about menstrual hygiene. Students actively participated, asking questions about menstrual pain and the use of menstrual products. It was followed by a discussion on menstrual myths and facts, debunking misconceptions that contribute to societal stigma.
The high point of the exercise was the distribution of one hundred and fifty (150) sanitary pads to the female students and questions and answers as well as group photographs
The NGO, whose vision aims to create a society where every young person thrives and is free from violence and exploitation, plans to reach out to 100 girls in Lagos State.
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