By Perpetua Onuegbu

Connected Development (CODE) and partners have urged an end to menstrual stigma, calling it a natural occurrence that should not attract shame.

The group made the call during a media visit to Thrifty Slayer, a reusable pad production facility in Abuja.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, Founder of CODE, said menstruation should never be a source of embarrassment for women and girls.

“This is a natural occurrence for women and girls. I’m a father, a husband, and a brother. If we want women to achieve their desired goals in life, we must play our part.

“Society should not dictate what women should say or do on this matter. As men, advocates, allies and fathers, let us prioritise menstrual health.

“We need policies that enable civil society, development partners and the private sector to provide pads in public schools, markets and toilets, because periods sometimes come unexpectedly,” Lawal said.

He stressed that addressing menstrual hygiene would save men the cost of treating infections in their daughters or wives, while also promoting women’s economic empowerment through reusable pad production.

According to him, reusable pads offer environmental benefits by reducing waste from disposable products.

“Most disposable pads end up blocking drainages, especially during the rainy season.

“But now we have organisations collecting waste fabrics from tailors, sorting them, and using them to make reusable pads that can last three to four years,” he added.

Mrs Gbemi Elekula, Founder of HUMANx/Dream Homes, said her company produces quality clothing and uses part of the proceeds to fund reusable pad distribution in underserved communities.

She said 3,675 packs had been distributed across six communities in partnership with CODE and Thrifty Slayer.

“Our goal is to ensure no girl misses school and no woman misses work because of menstruation,” she said.

Elekula urged an end to the stigma surrounding menstruation.

“When you talk about food, you don’t whisper. So why whisper about menstruation?

“Women are created to bleed. Without it, there would be no reproduction and the world would shut down. We must break the walls of stigma,” she said.

Ms Honeybel Ajise, Manager of Thrifty Slayers, said the organisation is focused on ending menstrual poverty and empowering women and girls through training in sanitary pad production.

She expressed optimism that the partnership with CODE and HUMANx would restore dignity to women and girls during their periods and end the stigma attached to it. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade