The Zobam Foundation says it has distributed over 10,000 sanitary pads to adolescent girls in Anambra since the inception of its “Give A Girl A Pad” project in 2019.

Chizoba Okelieukwu, the founder and director of Zobam Foundation, disclosed this during the 2026 edition of the annual Menstrual Hygiene Day and Symposium in Awka on Wednesday.

The symposium, which had students from 10 schools in attendance, featured drama and a quiz competition on menstrual health-related issues, as well as the distribution of sanitary pads.

Ms Okelieukwu said the foundation, through the support of its partners, reached about 40 secondary schools across the 21 local government areas of the state.

She said the Menstrual Hygiene Day and Symposium was meant to demystify menstruation among young girls.

She said it was also aimed at empowering them with access to sanitary pads as well as the confidence to manage the stigma associated with monthly periods.

“We started this programme in 2019 and we have consistently organised this menstrual hygiene day and symposium every year.

“During the period, we have reached 40 schools in Anambra and distributed not less than 10,000 sanitary pads to young girls.

“We have a menstrual hygiene club through which we want to take our message to the rural and remote areas of the state.

“So, we are calling on the state government to support this initiative,” Ms Okelieukwu said.

Speaking, Chinyere Okunna, a Mass Communication expert, said the development and productivity of the girl-child were being hindered because of menstrual health challenges.

Ms Okunna said many women did not have access to sanitary pads due to poverty and had to resort to pieces of cloth, which exposed them to diseases and illness.

“In a very badly performing economy, many women cannot afford hygiene items, and the danger is that diseases can be contracted.

“This is why we are calling for increased awareness and support for women in the area of menstrual health.

“This is because many girls stay at home during menstruation as a result of their inability to manage clean and healthy menstruation,” she said. 

(NAN)