The Cross River government, yesterday, in Calabar, agreed to partner with Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to provide sanitary pads to women and girls in underserved communities of the state.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Edema Irom, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during an engagement with four secondary schools in the state to commemorate the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The engagement saw the distribution of sanitary pads to students of West African Peoples’ Institute (WAPI); Government Secondary School Lagos Street, Calabar; Henshaw Town Secondary School and Government Secondary School Akim by AHF.

NAN reports that Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed yearly on May 28 to emphasise the importance of breaking taboos, ensuring access to quality menstrual products, comprehensive period education, and period-friendly facilities.

This year’s theme is “Together for a period-friendly world.”

Irom called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations and communities to collaborate in ensuring that sanitary pads are provided in public places.

She said: “The greatest challenge we have had as a ministry is the provision of pads, even if the pads are made available, another challenge is water and proper toilet facility in schools.

“It will shock you to know that most times women come to the ministry to ask for pads and many girls sleep around for things as little as money for sanitary pads.”