Abdul'aziz Ibrahim Hassan
The Association of Lady Pharmacists, (ALPs) Gombe State Chapter, has called on the government to subsidize the cost of sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene materials for adolescent girls, particularly those in boarding schools.
Chairperson of the Association, Pharmacist Salome Yere Begotten, made the call during a menstrual hygiene awareness campaign held at Government Girls College Doma, as part of activities marking this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, themed “Together for a PeriodFriendlyWorld.”
She said the gesture was aimed at equipping young girls with the knowledge and materials they need to manage their periods with dignity, noting that many girls lack access to safe menstrual products and face difficulty disposing of used pads due to poor hygiene facilities in schools.
Pharmacist Salome explained that the choice of the boarding school was deliberate, considering the vulnerability of girls who live away from home.
She stressed that the inability to afford pads and lack of safe spaces for disposal remain major challenges for many students in Gombe and across Nigeria.
Keynote speaker at the event, Pharmacist Nabila Sani Yunusa from Gombe State Specialist Hospital, underscored the importance of menstrual hygiene education in breaking the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation.
She emphasized the need for continuous awareness, access to clean water, soap, and the provision of sanitary-friendly bins and incinerators in schools.
Pharmacist Nabila encouraged the girls to embrace menstruation as a natural and powerful part of womanhood, urging schools, communities, and policymakers to work together to make menstrual health a priority.
Meanwhile, the Principal of Government Girls Secondary School Doma, Hajiya Fatima Ali Baba, represented by Mrs. Deborah Lauthan Henry, thanked the Association of Lady Pharmacists for what she described as a timely and impactful outreach.
She noted that the sanitary pads, hygiene kits, and essential drugs donated to the school’s first aid unit would go a long way in supporting the girls' well-being.
She also called on other well-meaning individuals and organizations to emulate ALPs in promoting adolescent health and menstrual dignity.
The event featured interactive health talks, pad distribution to over a thousand students, and advocacy messages on creating a more period-friendly school environment.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated annually on May 28 to raise awareness and normalize the conversation around menstruation, breaking taboos and promoting access to menstrual products and education.
