In the spirit of Christmas and the season of giving, El-Neema Cares Initiative reached 50 girls in Ajegunle community, Mpape, Abuja, with menstrual hygiene supplies and educational resources as part of its commitment to promoting menstrual dignity among girls in underserved communities.
For many girls in Nigeria, menstruation remains more than a monthly health experience; it can become a challenge shaped by poverty, limited access to sanitary products, inadequate hygiene facilities and stigma. Girls who cannot afford sanitary pads may resort to using tissue paper, rags or other unsuitable materials to manage their periods. UNICEF has documented how limited access to menstrual materials and adequate WASH facilities can contribute to missed educational opportunities, while WaterAid has highlighted the wider links between menstrual health, dignity, education and gender equality.
It was against this backdrop that El-Neema Cares Initiative carried out its Christmas outreach in Ajegunle community, providing each of the 50 beneficiaries with sanitary pads sufficient for approximately two months, alongside a copy of Neema’s Menstrual Booklet, an educational resource designed to provide girls with practical information about menstrual health and hygiene.
Unlike some of the organisation’s other menstrual hygiene interventions, the Christmas outreach was intentionally centred on sharing love, restoring dignity and putting smiles on the faces of the girls during the festive season.
During brief interactions with the beneficiaries, some girls shared that they were able to use sanitary pads during their periods, while many others disclosed that they relied on tissue paper or rags when they could not afford sanitary products. These conversations offered a glimpse into the everyday realities of menstrual poverty among girls living in underserved communities.
Although there was limited time for an extensive educational session, the team used the opportunity to remind the girls about the importance of maintaining good menstrual hygiene and taking care of themselves during their periods. The distribution of Neema’s Menstrual Booklet also ensured that the girls had access to additional information beyond the outreach.
For El-Neema Cares Initiative, however, the intervention represented more than the distribution of sanitary pads.
The organisation believes that menstrual dignity should not be determined by a girl’s ability to afford menstrual products. Every girl deserves to experience her period with dignity, comfort and safety, regardless of her socioeconomic circumstances.
“Sometimes, a package of sanitary pads may look simple, but to a girl who has been worrying about what she will use during her next period, it can mean relief, dignity and the assurance that someone cares,” the organisation said.
The outreach also reinforced the importance of reaching girls beyond traditional school-based interventions. Girls living and working in underserved communities may not always have access to structured menstrual health education or consistent menstrual hygiene support, making community-based interventions an important part of addressing menstrual poverty.
While there was no formal follow-up programme established for the beneficiaries after the outreach, the interactions provided valuable insight into the menstrual hygiene challenges girls continue to face and the need for sustained efforts that combine access to menstrual products, education and community support.
More importantly, the Christmas outreach communicated a message that went beyond menstruation: you matter, you are seen, and your circumstances do not diminish your worth.
For El-Neema Cares Initiative, menstrual hygiene is ultimately about more than pads. It is about ensuring that girls can experience a natural part of life without shame, fear or loss of dignity.
About El-Neema Cares Initiative
El-Neema Cares Initiative is committed to supporting girls and underserved communities through interventions that promote dignity, wellbeing, education and access to essential resources. Through its menstrual hygiene initiatives, the organisation works to ensure that girls have access to menstrual products, information and support needed to manage their periods safely and with dignity.
