By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Special Adviser to the Wife of the Cross River State Governor on Political Affairs, Ms Elizabeth Awatt, has pledged support for efforts to end period poverty among vulnerable girls, backing the Padbank Mobile Outreach initiative with sanitary materials and advocacy for broader stakeholder collaboration.
Awatt demonstrated her support during the June edition of the Padbank Mobile Outreach held at Government Secondary School, Nyaghasang, in Calabar Municipality, where she stressed the need for collective action to tackle menstrual hygiene challenges confronting disadvantaged girls.
She commended Padbank for promoting menstrual health awareness and restoring dignity to young girls through the provision of sanitary products, noting that stronger partnerships involving government, development agencies, private organisations and individuals are essential to eliminating period poverty.
The outreach benefited about 170 schoolgirls, with more than 200 sanitary pads and other hygiene materials distributed to support their menstrual health needs.
Management of Government Secondary School, Nyaghasang, expressed appreciation to Padbank and its partners for choosing the school for the intervention. The Principal described the institution as “a lonely school in a lonely community” and said the programme brought hope and encouragement to the students.
She noted that the intervention came at a crucial time and would boost the confidence, wellbeing and academic participation of the girls.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, highlighted Padbank’s commitment to eradicating period poverty through advocacy, education and improved access to sanitary products.
He urged the students to apply the lessons learned during the session and remain focused on their education and future goals.
A key highlight of the outreach was a practical menstrual hygiene session facilitated by Victoria Omini, Face of Padbank. She educated the girls on proper sanitary pad use, menstrual hygiene management, nutrition during menstruation and safe disposal of used sanitary products.
The session featured a practical demonstration by a student, giving participants firsthand knowledge of correct menstrual hygiene practices.
Students actively engaged in the programme, sharing experiences and asking questions, while many expressed gratitude to Padbank and its partners for the educational support and sanitary materials provided.
Padbank is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to combating period poverty and improving access to menstrual hygiene products for underprivileged girls, particularly those in vulnerable communities and living with disabilities.
The outreach underscored growing efforts by stakeholders to ensure that no girl is denied dignity, education or opportunity because of her menstrual health needs.
