As the 2025 Menstrual Health Day holds today, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria is hosting a commemorative event at WAPI Secondary School Calabar, Cross River State, and at Karinmajigi community in Abuja, to address the stigma, cultural taboos, and lack of menstrual hygiene access that undermine dignity, and increase HIV risk among women and girls.

Globally, women and girls, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, face a disproportionate HIV burden. The lack of access to sanitary pads forces many to miss school, increasing the likelihood of dropping out. This often leads to increased transactional or transgenerational sex, limiting their ability to negotiate safer sex, and raising the risk of acquiring HIV.

The foundation’s programmes are part of broader strategic prevention efforts that highlight the link between menstrual health and HIV, promote the availability and accessibility of menstrual products, and integrate sexual and reproductive health information and services – ensuring women and girls/ people who menstruate – have access to sanitary pads, HIV testing, condoms, and essential care.

This year, AHF Nigeria will empower young women and girls, both in-school and out-of-school with the information and knowledge they require for a safe menstrual experience.

“Importantly, we shall provide free sanitary pads, both disposable and reusable to young girls in Calabar, Abuja and Makurdi, while calling on the government to invest in providing free sanitary pads to young girls, across Nigeria, especially indigent girls who lack access to sanitary pads.

“AHF Nigeria is committed to ending period poverty in Nigeria with consistent investment in initiatives that bridge the knowledge gap of menstrual health management in young women and girls and in combating the myths, stigma and cultural taboos undermining the wellbeing of young women and girls. To this end, we will continue to expand access to accurate information and the provision of free sanitary pads to compliment the efforts of other concerned stakeholders,” said AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, Dr. Echey Ijezie.

Nearly two billion people menstruate globally, yet 500 million experience period poverty – including the lack of access to menstrual health products, safe and clean facilities, and accepting communities.

These barriers, along with stigma, can lead to poor health outcomes, missing school or work, and adverse effects on mental health. The organisation stated that this year’s theme, let’s fight period poverty and end the stigma’ was timely.