In a bid to combat period poverty and promote menstrual health awareness among displaced populations, Embracing the Girl Child Initiative marked this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day with a humanitarian outreach to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, providing education, sanitary products and essential support to women, girls and vulnerable families.
The outreach focused on raising awareness about menstrual hygiene, breaking long-standing stigma surrounding menstruation and equipping girls and women with the knowledge needed to manage their menstrual health safely and with dignity.
As part of the intervention, the organisation distributed free sanitary pads to women and adolescent girls, many of whom face significant challenges accessing basic menstrual hygiene products due to displacement and economic hardship.
Speaking during the outreach, Founder and Executive Director of Embracing the Girl Child Initiative, Barrister Nneamaka Onyema, said the programme was designed not only to provide sanitary materials but also to empower women and girls through education and support.
According to her, the choice of an IDP camp was deliberate, given the heightened vulnerability of displaced women and girls who are often excluded from conversations and interventions relating to menstrual health.
“Women and girls in displaced communities are often overlooked, and it is important that they are equipped with the right knowledge and support regarding menstrual hygiene,” Onyema said.
She noted that access to menstrual health education remains a critical challenge for many girls living in displacement camps, where poverty, limited healthcare services and inadequate sanitation facilities often compound existing difficulties.
Beyond menstrual hygiene support, the outreach extended assistance to pregnant women and nursing mothers through the distribution of postnatal medical supplies and other essential items aimed at supporting maternal and child wellbeing.
In a further demonstration of community care, food was provided for residents of the camp, bringing relief to dozens of families and creating an atmosphere of hope and inclusion.
The organisation expressed appreciation to its partners and supporters whose contributions made the outreach possible, including LinkedLegal Attorneys, Zeal + Passion Home Kitchen, The Trip Fixers International, I Dey Com Tours and Travels Limited, and the Abuja ESUT Law Class of 2005.
Embracing the Girl Child Initiative said the success of the programme underscores the importance of collective action in addressing the needs of vulnerable women and girls.
As conversations around menstrual equity continue to gain global attention, the organisation reiterated its commitment to ensuring that no girl is denied dignity, education or opportunity because of her menstrual cycle.
“Together, we can continue to create a world where no girl is left behind,” the organisation stated.
