Stakeholders across Anambra State have called for the adoption and domestication of Nigeria’s National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Policy to improve menstrual health, protect the dignity of adolescent girls and reduce school absenteeism.
The call was made during a high-level stakeholders’ workshop organised by the Development Centre for Orientation, Discovery and Empowerment (DeCODE) under its Menstrual Ease for Girls (ME4Girls) Project, with financial support from Rise Up Together.
The workshop brought together representatives of the Ministries of Education, Health, and Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), local education authorities, development partners, civil society organisations, professional associations, academic institutions, youth groups and the media.
Participants reviewed findings from the ME4Girls Situation Assessment and examined the national menstrual health policy, with discussions focused on strategies for implementing the framework effectively across Anambra State.
A major outcome of the workshop was the agreement to establish the Anambra Menstrual Health Advocacy Coalition, a multi-stakeholder platform expected to coordinate advocacy, policy engagement and implementation efforts on menstrual health across the state.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, participants stressed the need for stronger collaboration between government institutions and non-state actors to ensure that schoolgirls have access to accurate menstrual health education, safe and gender-responsive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, as well as supportive learning environments.
The stakeholders also called on the Anambra State Government to develop and adopt a comprehensive implementation framework for menstrual health in public secondary schools.
They said the framework should integrate menstrual health education into school activities, improve access to safe and private sanitation facilities and establish support systems that would enable girls to remain in school during their menstrual periods.
The meeting further emphasised the importance of evidence-based planning, research, regular monitoring and accountability to ensure the sustainability of menstrual health programmes in the state.
Participants also committed to mobilising technical, financial and institutional resources from government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and the private sector to strengthen menstrual health interventions.
The stakeholders said addressing menstrual stigma and improving menstrual hygiene management would not only promote the health and dignity of adolescent girls but also contribute to better educational outcomes and equal opportunities for girls across Anambra State.
