Date: May 28, 2025
Location: Galle Community, Nasarawa Eggon LGA, Nasarawa State
On May 28, 2025, the Centre for Women, Youth, and Community Action (NACWYCA) marked an inspiring celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day with 78 young adolescents and women from Galle Community in Nasarawa Eggon. This event—dubbed the Pad a Girl Project—united students, out‑of‑school youth, and community leaders for a day of prayer, education, and tangible support.
1. Opening & Community Support
The program began with an opening prayer led by a dedicated NACWYCA volunteer. In her opening remarks, our Program Coordinator emphasized the project’s dual purpose: to raise awareness about menstrual health and break the societal stigma attached to it, as well as to distribute essential hygiene supplies.
Mrs. Paulina Agbu, Principal of Government Secondary School (GSS) Galle, expressed her gratitude to NACWYCA for selecting some of her female students to be beneficiaries of this initiative. She noted that access to sanitary products can directly improve school attendance and academic performance. Village Head Jafaru Ijala also extended his thanks—emphasizing the importance of including out‑of‑school girls in conversations that concern their health and future.
2. Policy Advocacy & Government Engagement
During the program, our Program Coordinator provided a timely update on policy developments in Nasarawa State:
- The Nasarawa State Government has approved the Girl Child Education Policy, which mandates the free provision of hygiene pads for school‑aged girls.
- Simultaneously, the State House of Assembly has passed a bill requiring the distribution of sanitary products to girls in school.
NACWYCA calls on state authorities to expedite the implementation of this policy and to fully sign the bill into law. Once enacted, these measures will ensure that no girl misses school because she cannot afford menstrual supplies.
3. Expert Sessions & Interactive Lectures
To empower attendees with accurate information, NACWYCA invited two speakers from the Nasarawa Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (NARUWASA): Abile Baba and Maryam Musa. Their informative sessions covered:
- The Importance of Menstrual Hygiene Education: Why understanding menstrual health is crucial to girls’ physical and emotional well‑being.
- Practical Demonstration: Hands‑on training on how to properly use and dispose of sanitary pads, including eco‑friendly disposal methods.
These interactive lectures encouraged questions and fostered open dialogue—helping to dismantle myths and build confidence among the young women.
4. Distribution of Hygiene Kits
Thanks to generous donations from NACWYCA staff and community partners, each of the 78 girls received a comprehensive hygiene kit containing:
- Sanitary pads
- Soap
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Skin cream
- Additional personal hygiene items
The girls were visibly grateful—many spoke of how such support would allow them to attend school regularly, participate in extracurricular activities, and pursue their dreams without interruption.
5. Moving Forward: A Call to Action
Menstrual Hygiene Day is not just a date on the calendar—it’s a call to action. NACWYCA remains dedicated to:
- Educating communities about menstrual health.
- Advocating for policy implementation and legal backing.
- Supporting girls through direct resource distribution.
- Partnering with local and state government to ensure sustainable, systemic change.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our donors, volunteers, speakers, school authorities, village leadership, and all who made this event possible. Your combined efforts are planting seeds of change that will continue to grow long after Menstrual Hygiene Day has passed.
Get Involved
- Donate: Contribute to future hygiene kits and educational materials.
- Volunteer: Help us lead workshops, mentor youth, and coordinate community outreach.
- Partner: Collaborate with NACWYCA to expand menstrual health programming to other LGA communities.
🔗 For more information on how to support our ongoing initiatives, visit www.nacwyca.org or contact our Program Coordinator at +234 803 533 0630. Together, we can ensure that every girl in Nasarawa State— and beyond—grows up with the dignity, knowledge, and resources she deserves.