Kemi Olatunde

The need for period-friendly toilets and the inclusion of sanitary pads in standard first aid boxes to promote good menstrual hygiene among girls and women in schools, workplaces, and public institutions has been emphasised.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, stated this while delivering his address at an event held in commemoration of the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day in Akure on Wednesday.

Describing the event as one dedicated to breaking the silence, raising awareness, and promoting action toward ensuring that menstrual health and hygiene are recognised as fundamental aspects of public health and human dignity, he noted that millions of women and girls across the country still face challenges in managing menstruation safely, hygienically, and without shame.

He explained that the government is focusing on period education, access to menstrual products, period-friendly toilets, and championing the inclusion of menstrual pads in all standard first aid boxes.

While noting that improper disposal of sanitary waste can lead to diseases, clogged drainage systems, and significant public health threats, he described menstruation as a natural biological process, adding that “no girl or woman should have to miss out on education, work, or daily activities due to lack of access to menstrual care.”

He encouraged all stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, civil society, and the private sector, to collaborate to achieve the above-stated goals.

He also called on men to ensure that girls and women have adequate support during their menstrual cycles.

Additionally, he advocated for the establishment of health clubs in schools for proper dissemination of health information to students.

In his welcome address, the Director of Family Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Isaac Aladeniyi, noted that menstruation plays a significant role in the lives of girls as individuals and future women.

He explained that their ability to maintain menstrual hygiene affects their mental well-being and urged them to seek clarifications on areas of confusion related to menstruation.

In his goodwill message, the representative of MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, Mr. Adedotun Israel, reaffirmed the organisation’s dedication to empowering women and girls in communities.

According to him, access to menstrual hygiene is a fundamental right, not a privilege. He emphasised that through education, advocacy, and the provision of reproductive health services, every girl can manage her period with dignity.

He urged everyone to continue standing with girls and women for a healthier and brighter future.

The State Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Comrade Felix Orobode, stressed the need for civil organisations to collaborate with the government in creating a period-friendly environment in the state.

He advised girls to take good care of themselves during their periods to maintain healthy living.

The representative of Akure Rotary Club, Princess Margaret Adesida-Akindun, noted that menstruation promotes self-care and is normal, natural, healthy, and a part of womanhood.

She emphasised the importance of regularly changing sanitary pads to avoid embarrassment during menstruation and encouraged girls to look after themselves.

The representative of the Director-General of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, Mrs. Aderonke Ibitoye, stressed the need for girls to speak with one voice to ensure they are adequately cared for during their menstrual periods.

She encouraged them to maintain good hygiene to enhance their reproductive health, saying, “Girls need to be educated. You must take good care of yourselves. Wash your underwear well and properly dispose of your sanitary pads.”

The Director of Schools at the Ministry of Education, Prince Olu Obajulaye, emphasised the need for stakeholders to ensure that girls do not skip classes due to menstruation. He assured that the Ministry is collaborating to ensure safe schools, stating, “We are doing the needful to ensure that menstruation does not become a barrier to learning.”

The representative of the Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Olukemi Akinyanmi, called for the proper disposal of sanitary pads, saying, “We should take good care of sanitary pads and not dispose of them indiscriminately for the overall health of all.”

The representative of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Adeyalo-Ogundare, emphasised that discussing menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls is of public health importance.

The representative of Lion’s Club International, Lion Christiana Awe, urged the girls to pass on the knowledge they have gained to future generations.

Ondo State Rotary representative for the Empowering Girls Initiative, Mrs. Omolola Fadumiye, described the girl’s body as amazing and called on them to embrace menstruation with confidence and knowledge. She said, “Do not hesitate to ask for help when necessary.”

In his lecture titled “Menstruation, Menstrual Cycle, and Complications,” the resource person, Dr. Olumide Akadiri, described menstruation as the monthly shedding of the lining of the uterus. He stated that menstruation typically begins at the average age of 12, but can start as early as 8 or as late as 16.

According to him, most individuals begin menstruating a few years after the development of breasts and pubic hair, and menstruation ceases at menopause, which occurs around the age of 51.

He explained that a normal menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days, with menstrual flow lasting between two to seven days. He noted, “The quantity of flow is about two tablespoons, with no passage of clots and no bleeding between periods.”

The theme for the event was “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”