By Victoria Omini
The Special Adviser to the Wife of the Governor of Cross River State on Political Affairs, Ms. Elizabeth Awatt, has thrown her weight behind efforts to eradicate period poverty among vulnerable girls, supporting the Padbank Mobile Outreach with sanitary materials and calling for stronger partnerships to sustain the initiative across communities.
Speaking through her gesture of support during the June edition of the Padbank Mobile Outreach at Government Secondary School, Nyaghasang in Calabar Municipality, Ms. Awatt emphasized the need for collective action in addressing menstrual hygiene challenges facing young girls, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
She commended Padbank for its commitment to restoring dignity and confidence to the girl child through menstrual hygiene education and the provision of sanitary products, noting that sustained collaboration among government, private organizations, development partners, and well meaning individuals remains critical to ending period poverty.
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The outreach impacted no fewer than 170 schoolgirls, with over 200 sanitary pads and other sanitary materials distributed to support their menstrual health and personal hygiene needs.
The management of Government Secondary School, Nyaghasang expressed profound appreciation to Padbank and its partners for selecting the institution for the intervention. The Principal of the school described the institution as “a lonely school in a lonely community” and thanked the organization for bringing hope and support to the students.
According to her, the outreach came at a critical time and would significantly boost the confidence and wellbeing of the girls. She added that both staff and students were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude over the visit.
Addressing the students during the programme, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, highlighted the vision of Padbank and its determination to eradicate period poverty through advocacy, education, and access to sanitary products.
He encouraged the students to make good use of the knowledge shared during the session and remain focused on their education and future aspirations.
The outreach session was moderated by Mr. Ukorebi Esien, who guided discussions and interactions throughout the programme.
A major highlight of the event was the practical menstrual hygiene education session facilitated by Victoria Omini, the Face of Padbank. She provided detailed guidance on the proper use of sanitary pads, menstrual hygiene management, nutrition during menstruation, and the safe disposal of used sanitary products.
To reinforce learning, a student participated in a practical demonstration, giving her peers firsthand knowledge of menstrual hygiene practices and proper sanitary pad usage.
The students actively participated throughout the session, asking questions and sharing experiences. Many expressed gratitude to Padbank and its partners for bringing both educational support and sanitary materials to their school.
Padbank is a non governmental organization dedicated to combating period poverty, promoting menstrual hygiene, and improving access to sanitary products for underprivileged girls. The organization places special emphasis on supporting girls in vulnerable communities and those living with disabilities.
The successful outreach at Government Secondary School, Nyaghasang further reinforces the growing commitment of stakeholders to ensure that no girl is denied dignity, education, or opportunity because of her menstrual health needs.
