Sexual and reproductive health activist Dr. Amarachi Ijeoma has called for urgent action to address period poverty and improve women’s sexual and reproductive health globally, particularly in Nigeria. With over seven years of experience in the medical field, Dr. Ijeoma has dedicated her career to tackling healthcare disparities, empowering women, and ensuring access to essential reproductive health services.

In 2021, she founded the Leading Women’s Health Foundation (LWHF), a non-profit organisation aimed at reducing healthcare gaps for women and girls in underserved communities in Nigeria. Dr. Ijeoma’s work as a fertility physician has shed light on the many barriers women face, including financial difficulties, societal stigma, and misinformation, which often prevent them from accessing basic reproductive healthcare services. These issues, including a lack of knowledge about menstrual health and insufficient access to contraceptives, motivated her to establish an organisation that would advocate for systemic change while providing clinical care.

One of LWHF’s key initiatives, the Stop Period Poverty in Nigeria (SPPIN) campaign, launched in 2023, has brought attention to the critical issue of menstrual health. The campaign has already reached over 1,000 schoolgirls in Lagos State, providing free menstrual products such as reusable menstrual cups, along with comprehensive menstrual health education. The initiative has expanded since its inception, reaching even more young students and promoting the use of sustainable, eco-friendly period products.
Dr. Ijeoma emphasised that while the SPPIN campaign addresses immediate needs by distributing free menstrual products, it also focuses on long-term solutions. By educating girls on proper hygiene and the use of menstrual cups, the foundation ensures they can manage their menstrual health independently. This holistic approach has had a transformative effect, enabling many girls to attend school without interruption and reclaim their dignity.

In addition to menstrual health, LWHF conducts medical outreaches and awareness campaigns in under-resourced communities. These include free breast and cervical cancer screenings, reproductive health education, and advocacy for policy changes. In 2023 alone, the foundation screened over 500 women for cancer and distributed thousands of menstrual products.
Collaboration with organisations such as LoanBook and Hayat Kimya has provided essential funding and resources to support these efforts. Furthermore, the foundation’s work has sparked a notable success story—one young girl who had struggled to access sanitary products and often missed school during her period is now a menstrual health ambassador in her community, educating others and helping to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation.

Dr. Ijeoma recognises the importance of collaboration with local communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure sustainable change. LWHF trains volunteers and local health workers to conduct menstrual health education, extending their reach to even the most remote areas. Through partnerships with the Lagos State Government, churches, clinics, and medical laboratories, the foundation has expanded access to cancer screenings and reproductive health services.

Policy advocacy is also a key part of LWHF’s strategy. Dr. Ijeoma has used social media campaigns, public awareness events, and grassroots activism to advocate for menstrual equity laws and improved reproductive health policies. One of the foundation’s notable actions was the SPPIN Walk, a demonstration to the Governor’s office that sparked vital conversations around menstrual health at the policy level.

LWHF plans to extend its reach, aiming to provide menstrual products and education to 10,000 girls across Nigeria in the coming years. The foundation also intends to launch a menstrual health training program for teachers, ensuring that menstrual education becomes a permanent part of school curricula. Additionally, LWHF will focus on infertility awareness and support, offering counseling and fertility care to women struggling with conception.