A socio-political group, Cross River Jewels, has distributed sanitary pads to 1,000 schoolgirls in Calabar, Cross River State, as part of activities marking International Women’s Day, in a bid to promote menstrual hygiene and reduce school absenteeism among teenage girls.
Gatekeepers News reports that the outreach covered five public secondary schools: Government Secondary School, Barracks Road; Government Secondary School, State Housing; Government Technical School, Mayne Avenue; Government Secondary School, TTC Ikot Ansa; and Government Secondary School, Atu.
Each beneficiary received a three-month supply of sanitary pads.
The Director-General of the group, Precious Besong, led members of the organisation during the programme, which also featured health education and mentoring sessions for the students.
According to the organisers, the initiative aims to ease the economic burden faced by many girls who struggle to afford sanitary products, a challenge that often results in missing school during menstrual periods.
“The pads are meant to last each student for about three months, helping them stay focused on their studies without worrying about menstrual hygiene,” the group said.
Beyond the distribution exercise, facilitators also engaged the students in discussions on menstrual health, encouraging them to maintain proper hygiene, build confidence and remain committed to their education.
The initiative received support from Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who reportedly provided financial assistance after learning about the programme.
Besong expressed gratitude to the senator for supporting the outreach despite not being from Cross River State.
“Seeing the excitement and relief on the faces of these young girls is deeply fulfilling,” she said. “This programme has become an annual tradition for Cross River Jewels, and we remain committed to empowering the girl child and supporting communities.”
Some of the beneficiaries described the intervention as timely, noting that improved access to sanitary products would help them focus better on their studies.
