About #Padher Project

It aims at supporting menstrual hygiene management amongst conflict affected girls and women of reproductive age in MMC/Jere LGAs of Borno State. To empower young girls and women who are going through various form of stigmatization, abuse and health challenges as a result of their natural monthly cycle.

For most poor and vulnerable girls in the North-eastern Nigeria (Borno and Yobe), who have been ravage by insurgency, as signs of menstruation gets close, it serves as a constant reminder of the oncoming abuse and stigmatization they are about to face. What should be a proud period in their lives, turn out to be their most dreadful period.

For most of these girls, menstruation is a dream-killer because they never get to attend schools during menstruation. While for others who cannot afford a good menstrual pad, they rely on old rags and leaves as alternatives which in turn develop health risk that can lead to conditions such as pelvic inflammatory diseases, haemorrhage, miscarriage, pregnancy complications or infertility. Some are sexually abused in their quest to look for money to buy menstrual pads.

Why the Project?

• According to UNESCO, 1 out of 10 African girls miss school during their menstrual period and eventually drop out of school.
• Poor menstrual hygiene has a negative effect on the education and health of women and girls
• Women and girls in Nigeria are faced with various physical and emotional challenges in managing their menstruation.

The project is geared to end deep-rooted taboos, myths and misinformation on menstruation in Nigeria and most developing countries

Objectives

• To collaborate with relevant Government agencies, renowned corporate bodies, UN agencies, INGOs CBOs and individual donors in Nigeria through long-term partnership and sponsorship for donation of menstrual hygiene kits.
• To organize menstrual hygiene management training and workshops in schools in the targeted states and LGAs,

• To organize menstrual hygiene management training and workshops in communities, IDP camps notable for menstrual myths and taboos

Target Population and Location

• To pilot the programme, about 5000 poor and vulnerable girls in targeted host communities, and secondary schools are to be reached across, Borno (MMC and Jere) and Yobe State (Potiskum and Bade) in Nigeria. The long-term plan is to replicate the same project in other Nigerian states through support and partnership with corporate and government bodies.

Activities

• Procure and distribute 5000 sanitary kits to vulnerable girls and women within their reproductive ages.
• Conduct training for teachers in schools on Menstrual Hygiene Management as well as establish health/Hygiene and Sexual Reproductive Health clubs across targeted schools.
• Conduct life skills sessions with girls in schools and women in communities on Menstrual Hygiene Management.
• Conduct training for community stakeholders (Women groups, religious leaders, traditional leaders, health care providers etc on menstrual Hygiene Management and the need to support girls and women during their periods.
• Conduct awareness and sensitization in communities on Menstrual Hygiene Management.

Projected Impact

• Increase girls’ presence, confidence and concentration in school and school activities.
• Reduced incidences of rape and abuse amongst poor school girls who are in search of money to purchase menstrual hygiene materials.
• Reduced incidences of diseases and death from unhygienic menstrual practices amongst girls.
• Mitigate the spread of taboos and myths associated with menstruation.
• Facilitate the achievements of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG #6) in Nigeria
• Increased knowledge of reproductive health (menstrual hygiene management) amongst the young generation who would serve as agents of positive change in their communities.
• Increased access to information on menstrual Hygiene Management and menstrual kits.

THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $10,000,00

Key Messages

Menstruation is a natural biological process

Menstruation is not a taboo

Let us work together to keep the dreams of our women and girls, alive.