The Onyedinma Foundation, a non-profit organisation, has commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for adopting and rolling out the first National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM 2025-2030).
This is as the Foundation also commended WaterAid Nigeria and Population Services International in Nigeria for supporting the initiative.
Onyedinma Foundation in a statement, signed by Glory Onwuka, its executive director, stated that the policy, validated on August 15, 2025, by the Minister of Women Affairs and other stakeholders in Abuja, marked a critical step towards safeguarding the health, dignity, and opportunities of women and girls nationwide.
They noted that the policy commits to providing free or subsidised menstrual products in schools, public facilities, and underserved communities, alongside improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure.
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It also integrates comprehensive menstrual health education into school curricula and community programmes to destigmatise menstruation and empower women and girls with accurate information, while investing in clean water, safe sanitation facilities, and eco-friendly products to enhance health outcomes and environmental sustainability.
The Foundation also stated that the policy positions Nigeria as a regional leader in menstrual health advocacy and could serve as a model for neighboring countries seeking to advance gender equality and public health.
“The phased rollout prioritizes schools and healthcare facilities, with a multi-stakeholder task force to monitor progress, address funding needs, and tackle cultural barriers”.
The Onyedinma Foundation therefore called on all stakeholders: governments at all levels, civil society organisations, private sector partners, community leaders, and international partners to join hands in accelerating the policy’s rollout.
The Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to contribute to the implementation of the policy, by stepping up its efforts to intensify sexual health and reproductive rights education, increase access to menstrual hygiene materials, and increase the campaign to eliminate harmful social norms that constrain women and girls.
“We will expand our advocacy and outreach to ensure equitable product, facility, and service access; prioritising rural, low-income, disabled, and marginalised communities.
“We will continue to support students, teachers, health workers, and community leaders with training and resources to sustain dialogue, referral networks, and effective service delivery, while promoting transparency, accountability, and measurable progress in education, health outcomes, and economic participation for women and girls”, it noted.
Onyedinma Foundation is a youth- and women-led Nigerian non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering girls, women, foster care children, and other vulnerable people, especially in rural communities, to promote inclusion and combat all forms of modern slavery.
