The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Archibong Bassey, has unveiled the Padbank Mobile Outreach, a personal initiative aimed at addressing menstrual hygiene challenges among vulnerable girls.
Bassey said the project, with the theme *”Restoring Dignity, Keeping Girls in School,”* was conceived from a casual conversation with a friend and was inspired by the struggles many teenage girls face in managing their menstrual cycle due to poverty.
She spoke yesterday during an outreach in Adiabo Ikot Mbo Otu community to mark International Humanitarian Day, where dozens of girls received free sanitary pads and sensitisation on menstrual hygiene.
Bassey explained that, though currently self-funded, the project aims to build a sustainable “pad bank” that will ensure a constant supply to girls in need.
“No girl ever asked for a menstrual cycle; it is a natural gift from God. Yet many are humiliated or dehumanised simply because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Padbank seeks to bridge that gap and restore dignity to every girl.”
She said a recent Cross River study revealed that lack of sanitary towels and fear of ridicule are major drivers of school absenteeism among adolescent girls during menstruation, noting that the study found 58.2 per cent of urban girls missed school due to lack of sanitary pads, compared to 25.8 per cent in rural areas.
“Nationally, UNICEF reports that about 23 per cent of adolescent girls missed school in the past 12 months because of menstruation. Knowledge and hygienic practices also vary widely between urban and rural areas, with rural girls often less informed and more exposed to unhealthy coping mechanisms,” the NUJ Chair added.
She appealed to members of the public to support the campaign by donating sanitary pads to girls, either for a term, a year, or longer. According to her, such contributions would go a long way in reducing school absenteeism and ensuring that girls learn in dignity and confidence.
She further urged schools, civil society organisations, faith-based groups, and government agencies to partner with the initiative in providing bulk supplies to schools and communities. Such collaborations, she noted, are vital in expanding the reach of the intervention and sustaining its impact.
Appreciating the NUJ Chairman for putting a smile on their faces, one of the beneficiaries, Favour Ita, said, “Sometimes I have to stay at home when I don’t have pads because I am afraid of being laughed at in school. With what I got today, I feel more confident that I can go to class without shame.”
Another beneficiary, Mary Ene, also stated, “My mother struggles to buy food, so pads are not always a priority. I am grateful for this help, and I also learnt better ways to take care of myself during my period.”
The community head, Chief Akpabio Okon Abasi, who received the team at his residence after the engagement, commended the initiative for its impact on the lives of vulnerable girls and pledged the community’s support.
He urged them to continue working hard in ensuring the safety of girls in the community.
The wife of the community chief, Mrs. Veronica Akpabio Okon Abasi, commended the initiative, saying it highlights the power of the media to drive social change.
She urged journalists to amplify such community-driven solutions. “What Padbank is doing goes beyond distributing pads; it is about giving girls confidence, dignity, and a chance to stay in school. This is the kind of story we must continue to tell,” she said.
