Dr. Samira Buhari and her Daurama Foundation celebrated World Menstrual Hygiene Day by spending the day advocating for, and enlightening girls on menstrual health and the importance of menstrual hygiene with young girls at the JSS Secondary School, Wuse, Zone 3, Abuja. This year’s global theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” emphasises the collective effort to eliminate the stigma around menstruation and ensure every girl has access to the resources they need for menstrual health and hygiene.
The Daurama Foundation team educated over 500 young girls on the importance of menstrual health and hygiene awareness. They also distributed period-friendly hygiene supplies, including sanitary pads, detergents, tissue papers, and exercise books to the students.
Dr. Samira Buhari, in her goodwill message, said “Every month, more than two billion people around the world menstruate. It is crucial that girls in Nigeria have access to the sanitary items they need to manage their periods safely and hygienically. Ensuring menstrual health aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting gender equality, quality education, and good health and well-being. Today and every day, we must normalise conversations about menstruation and take action to end period poverty.”
The school’s principal, Mrs Adebimpe Ojo, expressed her gratitude for the foundation’s support. “The Daurama Foundation’s visit today has not only provided our students with essential hygiene supplies but also empowered them with knowledge. This is a significant step towards ensuring that our girls can attend school confidently and without interruption.”
One of the students, Emmanuel Perfection, shared her excitement and appreciation. She said “Receiving these sanitary pads and learning about menstrual health today has been very helpful. Now I feel more prepared and confident. Thank you to Dr. Buhari and the Daurama Foundation for caring about us.”
Young girls of JSS receiving education and menstrual kits from Daurama Foundation Programs Manager, Zainab Sabo Mustafa during the Foundation’s outreach on World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024 in Abuja.
In addition to the events in Abuja, Dr. Samira Buhari, through the Daurama Foundation, donated 500 sanitary pads towards the WASH program in Borno State, Nigeria. This donation is part of the foundation’s contribution to the WASH Partners initiative, aiming to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) standards in the region.
As the movement against period poverty celebrates ten years of collective action by women and girls worldwide, Daurama Foundation continues to champion menstrual hygiene management and awareness in Nigeria. Today’s event highlights the ongoing commitment to making talking about periods a normal part of life and ensuring that no girl misses out on education due to lack of sanitary products.
