|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
More than 200 students at UBTH Staff School took part in a menstrual health outreach on June 9, 2026, as the Florence Osarentin Development Initiative (FosaDev), Marie Stopes International Nigeria (MSI) and the Development for Underserved Communities (DUC) Foundation marked World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The programme brought students and teaching staff together for conversations on menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, and the misinformation that often shapes how young people understand menstruation. It began with an interactive question and answer session, allowing facilitators to assess what students already knew about menstruation and the questions they still had. The discussion also drew attention to the role schools can play in giving children accurate information where conversations at home may be limited or absent.
MSI Nigeria facilitated an age-appropriate session on sexual and reproductive health, addressing common misconceptions and discussing healthy menstrual practices. Students were encouraged to ask questions openly and to seek guidance from trusted adults when they need information or support.
The outreach included boys as well as girls, recognising that menstrual health is not a conversation girls should be left to carry alone. Boys were encouraged to understand menstruation better and contribute to a school environment where girls are not teased or isolated because of their periods.
FosaDev and its partners also distributed sanitary pads and educational materials to female students. The materials were intended to support practical menstrual hygiene while giving students information they could return to after the session. Teachers participated in the programme, too, strengthening the support available to students within the school. According to the organisers, feedback after the outreach showed improved understanding of menstrual health and greater willingness among participants to discuss it with peers and trusted adults.
The programme forms part of FosaDev’s work on adolescent health education through community-based partnerships. At UBTH Staff School, the focus was straightforward, giving young people accurate information, practical support and room to speak about menstruation without shame.
