Children in Katsina State have appealed to the state government to provide schools with clean toilets, reliable water supply and affordable sanitary pads to improve menstrual hygiene and ensure girls remain in school.
The appeal was made on Saturday during the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day commemoration in Katsina, organised by Save the Children under the theme, "Together for a Period-Friendly World."
Speaking on behalf of adolescent girls, Save the Children Girl Champion, Hafsat Abubakar-Maina, said many girls continue to struggle with menstrual hygiene because of poor sanitation facilities, inadequate awareness and persistent social stigma.
She described menstruation as a natural biological process that should never be associated with fear, shame or discrimination.
According to her, many girls begin menstruation without adequate knowledge, while harmful cultural beliefs and misinformation expose them to embarrassment and exclusion.
She said the situation is compounded by the lack of functional toilets, clean water, soap and private changing spaces in many schools across the state.
Abubakar-Maina noted that some girls miss classes during their menstrual periods because they cannot afford sanitary pads or fear being ridiculed if their uniforms become stained, a situation she said affects their education, confidence and future opportunities.
She commended Save the Children and the Cuppy Foundation for equipping adolescents with knowledge on puberty, menstrual hygiene, personal health and life skills through Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health programmes.
According to her, the initiative has also helped boys better understand menstruation, promoting respect for girls and reducing stigma in schools and communities.
She also praised the wife of the Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, for supporting programmes that promote girls' education and wellbeing.
Abubakar-Maina urged the government to make sanitary pads affordable or provide them free to girls from low-income families, while calling on development partners to sustain menstrual hygiene education across the state.
The children also appealed to parents, teachers, traditional and religious leaders to challenge harmful myths surrounding menstruation and provide girls with the support they need.
"A girl's period should never stop her from learning, playing or chasing her dreams," she said.
In her remarks, the wife of the governor, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, reaffirmed the Katsina State Government's commitment to improving the health, education and welfare of women and girls.
She described menstrual health as a public health, education, human rights and development issue requiring the collective efforts of government, communities and development partners.
Radda said the government would continue to strengthen adolescent health interventions, expand access to reproductive health information and services, and improve menstrual hygiene management across the state.
She stressed that no girl should miss school because of menstruation or face discrimination over a natural biological process.
The governor's wife also urged parents, teachers, healthcare providers, traditional and religious leaders to promote accurate information about menstruation and help eliminate stigma in communities.
She acknowledged the contributions of the Katsina State Ministry of Health, the State Primary Health Care Agency, Save the Children and other development partners in advancing menstrual health awareness and adolescent health programmes.
Radda called on all stakeholders to renew their commitment to ensuring every girl has access to menstrual hygiene products, clean water, adequate sanitation facilities and comprehensive health education.
(NAN)
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