2026 World Menstrual Health Day: AHF To Host 150 Students In Four Nasarawa Secondary Schools

0

Tor Vande-Acka

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), says, it plans to host over 150 participants, mostly students on the occasion of the 2026 World Menstrual Health Day, adding that participants at the occasion would be taught basic tips to keeping healthy during their periods.

The organisations which plans to make boys allies of menstrual health hygiene, further stated that during the event which would be held in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Monday, also explained that about 150 participant are expected to receive at least two months supplies of sanitary towels each on the occasion.

AHF urged governments to reduce cost of managing menstrual health by removing taxes, investing in access, and breaking the silence around menstruation to protect health, dignity, and opportunity for all, pointing out that when this is done, it would reduce issues of transactional relationships among other issues.

In the statement made available to INDEPENDENT, in Makurdi, the Marketing Manager, AHF Nigeria, Steve Aborisade, explained that Menstrual Health Day is usually observed annually on the 28th May, but due to the public holiday coming up on Thursday, 28th, 2026, it decided to bring the event forward.

He noted that “This year, AHF Nigeria and her partners in Nasarawa shall converge at the Victory Baptist School, Daddin – Kowa, Keffi and be joined by other students from Flobam British Secondary School, Government Secondary School and Government Junior Secondary School, all in Keffi.

“Government partners that will be in attendance include officials from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Education.

“The Nasarawa State Focal Person on Gender Based Violence will also be present, as well as the Association of Positive Youths Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (APYIN), the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) and the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN).

“Event shall see a menstrual health expert take participants through the salient issues in menstrual health management, particularly as it concerns access to menstrual health products and the stigma associated with menstruation in our society.

“Participating students will also learn the basic steps to keeping healthy and well during their periods, while also making boys allies of menstrual health management.

“At the same time, the 150 participants expected at the event shall receive 2 months supplies of sanitary towels each, as well as incentives to aid their menstrual experience”, according to the statement.

However, the AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Martin Matabishi, noted that “Across Africa, too many women and girls still lack access to basic menstrual products and safe facilities, forcing them to miss school, risk their health, or turn to unsafe coping strategies.

“Menstrual health is not a luxury—it is a fundamental part of public health and HIV/STI prevention. Governments must remove taxes, invest in access, and break the silence around menstruation to protect health, dignity, and opportunity for all.”

Also, the AHF Nigeria Country Program Director (CPD), Dr. Echey Ijezie, stated that “Globally, nearly 2 billion people menstruate, with 500 million experiencing period poverty. These challenges can lead to reliance on transactional relationships or relationships with significant age differences, reducing the ability to negotiate safer sex and raising the risk of HIV and other STIs.

“AHF applauds countries that have reduced or eliminated taxes on menstrual products and urges others to follow suit to ensure access for all who need them”, he observed.

AHF notes that in many communities, taboos prevent open discussion, limit access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information, and discourage people from seeking care.

It also stated that addressing menstrual health must go hand in hand with efforts to normalize periods, expand access to essential services—including HIV prevention, testing, and treatment—and ensure that everyone can manage their health safely, with dignity, and without fear or discrimination. End