By Asuquo Cletus
PADBANK, a humanitarian initiative aimed at tackling period poverty in Cross River State, has raised awareness on menstrual hygiene and donated sanitary pads to students of Community Secondary School, Ikot Ewa, in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the State
Speaking at the outreach yesterday, the coordinator of PADBANK, Archibong Bassey FRGP, said the project is designed to restore dignity to young girls and ensure they are not deprived of education or confidence because of their menstrual cycle.
“I was once a teenager, and I understand the struggles that comes with menstrual hygiene. No girl asked for a menstrual cycle, so none should be humiliated or dehumanised because of it,” she said.
Bassey laments that many girls in rural areas still rely on unsafe and unhygienic methods to manage their periods, exposing them to infections and psychological trauma which in turn hampers active school participation.
“Menstruation should not be the reason a child abandons her education or hides in shame,” she stressed. “When girls miss school every month because they lack sanitary towels, it affects their future and by extension the development of society.”
In it’s September Outreach which is the second since the launch of the project, 250 girls from ages 12 to 18 were empowered with sanitary towels as the initiative targets the distribution of 80,000 sanitary pads across 12 communities within one year. According to her, the long-term goal is to establish sustainable menstrual hygiene programmes in schools and communities.
While noting that the project is currently self-funded, Bassey appealed for broader collaboration. “We cannot do this alone. We are calling on government agencies, NGOs, faith-based groups, and well-meaning Nigerians to partner with us so that PADBANK will never run out of stock. Every pad we give out is an investment in the future of a girl,” she said.
She also called for greater openness in discussing menstrual health, urging parents, teachers, and communities to break the silence around the subject. “Talking about menstruation should not be a taboo. It is natural, and the earlier we normalise these conversations, the better for our girls,” she added.
The Public Relations Officer of PADBANK, Ukoroebi Essien, who also addressed the students, reinforced the message that menstrual health is a necessity, not a luxury.
“When girls miss school or lose confidence because they cannot manage their periods, society loses too. PADBANK is committed to changing that narrative in Cross River and beyond,” he said.
The outreach featured a sensitisation session on menstrual hygiene management and the distribution of sanitary pads to students of the school.
