Chinedum Treasure
Key stakeholders across Anambra State have united to support the adoption and domestication of Nigeria’s National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Policy, framing the move as an urgent priority to safeguard the health, dignity, and educational continuity of adolescent girls.
The collective resolution was secured during a high-level stakeholders’ workshop organized by the Development Centre for Orientation, Discovery and Empowerment (DeCODE) under its flagship Menstrual Ease for Girls (ME4Girls) Project, with financial backing from Rise Up Together.
The strategic gathering brought together crucial actors from the Ministries of Education, Health, and Women Affairs and Social Welfare, alongside leadership from the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), local education authorities, international development partners, civil society organizations, professional associations, academic institutions, youth groups, and media representatives.
Throughout the session, participants carefully evaluated empirical findings from the ME4Girls Situation Assessment, thoroughly examined the national policy framework, and formulated actionable strategies tailored for effective roll-out within Anambra State.
A paramount breakthrough of the event was the official agreement to launch the Anambra Menstrual Health Advocacy Coalition. Positioned as a unified, multi-stakeholder platform, the coalition will directly drive, organize, and streamline all policy engagement, public advocacy, and execution strategies state-wide.
According to the official communiqué released after the workshop, attendees agreed that cross-sectoral collaboration between public institutions and non-state actors is essential to guarantee that schoolgirls receive comprehensive menstrual health education, access to functional, gender-responsive water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, and a fully supportive academic environment.
To translate policy into practical results, workshop participants called directly on the Anambra State Government to design and endorse a robust implementation framework specifically tailored for public secondary schools.
They emphasized that this structured plan will systematically embed menstrual health education into school routines, improve access to safe and private sanitation facilities, and establish reliable support systems to ensure girls do not miss school during their periods.
Beyond standard policy adoption, discussions centered on the necessity of evidence-based planning, rigorous research, continuous monitoring, and strict accountability mechanisms to guarantee long-term program sustainability.
To power these operations, participants committed to mobilizing technical, financial, and institutional resources from state agencies, development partners, non-governmental bodies, local communities, and private sector sponsors to build a durable menstrual health ecosystem.
Individual representatives pledged to serve as active champions within their respective bodies, participate dynamically in the newly formed coalition, and execute targeted public awareness campaigns to eliminate the social stigma surrounding menstruation.
They further committed to deepening inter-agency collaboration, sharing crucial data, and delivering on every objective outlined in the project’s advocacy roadmap.
Moving forward, the coalition established immediate operational steps: finalizing the official workshop report and communiqué, initiating the advocacy roadmap, conducting direct outreach with top government decision-makers, and continuing technical consultations to build out the public secondary school implementation framework.
In closing, delegates expressed deep appreciation to DeCODE for taking the initiative to organize the platform, while commending the Anambra State Government, development partners, and civil society actors for their growing commitment to advancing menstrual health and hygiene for women and girls.
Reaffirming their shared mission, stakeholders pledged to ensure that no girl in Anambra State is ever deprived of her right to education, health, personal dignity, or equal social participation due to a natural biological process.
They reiterated that menstrual health is far more than a routine wellness issue – it is a fundamental pillar of human rights, gender equity, and educational opportunity.
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