FG Finalises National Menstrual Health Policy to Tackle Stigma, Keep Girls in School
The Federal Government is preparing to launch Nigeria’s first National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Policy in the fourth quarter of 2025, a move aimed at breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation and improving school attendance for girls.
The policy framework was at the centre of discussions during the country’s inaugural Menstrual Health and Hygiene Summit held in Abuja, themed “Empowering Lives, Breaking Barriers, and Building Dignity.”
The gathering brought together more than 350 stakeholders, including representatives from government ministries, civil society groups, development partners, academia, grassroots advocates, and young women.
Key commitments emerging from the summit included integrating menstrual health into gender-responsive budgeting, encouraging local production of reusable menstrual products, supporting youth-led pad banks, collecting nationwide menstrual data, and introducing disability-inclusive certification for menstrual products.
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs described menstruation as a human rights issue, calling for actions that go beyond awareness campaigns to include policy reforms and school-friendly interventions.
Officials stressed that access to affordable sanitary products and menstrual education could significantly reduce absenteeism among schoolgirls.
Even ahead of the policy’s formal adoption, several initiatives are already in motion. Through the AKGIS project, the Tabitha Cumi Foundation has reached more than 1,600 marginalized girls in the FCT, Lagos, and Benue with menstrual education and sanitary materials.
The Development Initiative for Youth Excellence, Progress, and Stability has distributed hygiene packages to nearly 450 girls across 20 schools in Abuja, while the Maden Healthcare Foundation and the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association’s Girl Child Advocacy team have provided over 5,000 sanitary pads and emergency hygiene kits to schools in 28 states, alongside educational sessions to combat stigma.
When launched later this year, the policy is expected to provide a nationwide framework for menstrual health education, access to products, and stigma reduction. Stakeholders believe it could mark a turning point in efforts to promote menstrual equity and ensure that no girl’s education is disrupted by a natural biological process.
