Across Nigeria, menstruation is costing girls their education, dignity, and voice. It’s not because menstruation is shameful—it’s because society makes it so. And while civil society works tirelessly to shift attitudes, policy remains the most powerful tool for transformation.
🚨 The Reality
- Over 37 million Nigerian women and girls menstruate monthly, yet access to affordable products, safe sanitation, and information remains limited.
- UNESCO estimates that 1 in 10 African girls miss school during menstruation. In Nigeria, this number is likely higher in underserved communities.
- Without proper support, menstruation becomes a silent barrier to gender equality, education, and economic participation.
🧭 Policy: The Missing Piece
Nigeria has national gender policies, WASH strategies, and adolescent health frameworks. But where is menstrual health in all of this? Without clear inclusion, budget lines, and targets, implementation falls through the cracks.
📌 What Policymakers Can Do
- Declare menstrual health a public health priority.
- Enforce mandatory WASH standards in all public schools.
- Provide subsidized or free menstrual products in schools and public institutions.
- Fund community programs that promote menstrual literacy and end stigma.
- Remove import duties and taxes on menstrual products to reduce cost.
- Mandate teacher training on menstrual health and gender sensitivity.
“Girls shouldn’t have to choose between bleeding and learning. Menstrual dignity is a constitutional right to health, dignity, and education.”
Menstrual health is not just a sectoral issue—it’s a nation-building priority. It deserves bold leadership, thoughtful legislation, and sustained investment.