By our reporter
A coalition of civil society organisations has launched the PAATA Campaign to tackle period poverty and promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in underserved communities and IDP camps across Nigeria.
The campaign, led by the Centre for Teens Health and Development, focuses on health education, distribution of reusable sanitary pads and underwear, and restoring dignity to girls during menstruation.
Morenikejimi Olaniran, Project Lead and Founder of the Centre4teens, said her personal experience as a young girl shaped her passion for the project.
According to her, the campaign revealed that many girls not only lack access to pads, but don’t even have underwear, an essential item for managing menstruation with dignity.
She said, “I experienced firsthand what it meant to lack access to menstrual health education, sanitary products, and even something as basic as underwear. Those challenges left deep impressions that fuelled my passion for change.
“This is why we launched the Paátà (Underwear) Campaign; to provide menstrual health education while giving girls access to our MO reusable pads and underwear. Every girl deserves to experience her period with confidence, safety, and dignity, never shame,” Olaniran added.
During the campaign, Executive Director of Focusing on Women and Girls Initiative for Positive Change, Rifkatu Ademola, led a session on underwear hygiene and vaginal care.
She said many girls have never had the chance to speak openly about these topics.
She said, “We talked about the little things that matter, choosing the right underwear, proper cleaning methods, and the girls were so eager to learn. It was a reminder that when we empower girls with information, we set them on the path to healthier lives,” she said.
The Founder of Adara Initiative for Child Education, Racheal Omosewa Ogundare, said she partnered on the campaign to break the silence around menstruation.
She said, “Menstruation is natural, but many girls are ashamed because of the lack of education and support. Some even drop out of school. I wanted to be part of the solution”.
Also speaking,Head of Operations at Let’s Talk Humanity Initiative, Sharon Chiahemen, said she was moved to join the campaign after learning about how many girls have to choose between food and sanitary products.
“I never experienced poverty growing up, but knowing others had to miss school or suffer infections due to lack of hygiene products changed me,” she said.
She spoke to girls about the importance of personal hygiene during and outside their periods, sharing tips like: bathing twice daily, wiping front to back, using only clean water and unscented soap, shaving regularly, changing pads at least twice daily, and wearing breathable cotton underwear.
At the Adolescent Health and Wellness Foundation, our vision is to build a community of young people who are informed, healthy, and productive toward self-reliance and a successful transition to adulthood.
The PAATA Project provided a timely opportunity for us to intervene and offer sustainable solutions to these challenges.
Communities visited during the campaign include Angwan Gede, Kpegeyi, Azatha, Government Secondary School Garki, and Ankapeyi.
