Maden Foundation Marks Menstrual Hygiene Day, Launches Community Pad Bank in Plateau

 

The Plateau State Chapter of Maden Healthcare Foundation has commemorated the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day with advocacy campaigns, school outreach programmes, and the establishment of a community pad bank aimed at tackling period poverty and promoting menstrual dignity among girls and women in the state.

The commemoration, held on Tuesday, May 26, began with a menstrual health and hygiene awareness walk from Old Airport Roundabout in Jos to the Plateau State Secretariat. The exercise attracted volunteers, medical students, health advocates, and partner organisations who sensitised residents on the importance of proper menstrual hygiene and ending stigma associated with menstruation.

The awareness campaign culminated in an advocacy visit to the Plateau State Ministry of Health, where officials of the Foundation engaged the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bitrus Hosea, and other stakeholders on the need for increased government investment in menstrual hygiene management.

Speaking during the engagement, the Plateau State Coordinator of the Foundation, Mr. Lamtur Lohnan Filibus, decried the growing challenge of period poverty, stressing that lack of access to menstrual hygiene products continues to affect the education, confidence, and wellbeing of many girls, especially those in underserved communities.

As part of activities marking the day, the Foundation also carried out a school outreach at Government Secondary School Tudun Wada, where students received education on menstrual hygiene, self-care, and myths surrounding menstruation.

A major highlight of the outreach was a practical training session on reusable sanitary pad production facilitated by the Nigerian Medical Students Female Forum. The training exposed students to sustainable menstrual hygiene practices while sanitary pads were distributed to beneficiaries.

In a further effort to address period poverty at the grassroots level, the Foundation established the first Community Pad Bank in Tudun Wada community to improve access to menstrual hygiene products for vulnerable girls and women.

According to the Foundation, a total of 1,550 sanitary pads were distributed during the activities, including supplies allocated to the newly established pad bank. Soap and other hygiene materials were also distributed to some women in the community.

The Foundation acknowledged the support of partner organisations, including Nigerian Medical Students Association – Standing Committee on Public Health, Build Up Africa, G51 Political Movement, and Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, for contributing to the success of the event.

Maden Healthcare Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to advancing menstrual health advocacy, promoting school health initiatives, and supporting vulnerable communities through sustainable healthcare interventions across the country.