A U.S.-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), called the African Immigrants Resources Centre, on Monday, distributed sanitary pads to 1,348 students in Imo to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.

The pads were distributed to female students of the Comprehensive Development Secondary School, Owerri.

The free pads were distributed as part of the NGO’s ‘Give A Girl A Pad’ (GAGAP) initiative, to commemorate the global event.

The convener of GAGAP, Chimezie Oji-Kalu, while distributing the pads, said that the initiative was part of the organisation’s efforts to cater to the needs of the girl child.

Mrs Oji-Kalu, represented by the GAGAP coordinator in Imo, Winifred Ijeaku, said that the initiative, among other things, was designed to help young girls avoid the mistakes of the past in the area of menstrual hygiene.

She said that with the pads, problems such as the spread of diseases and low self-esteem resulting from poor hygiene, could be avoided.

“In the past, the girl child suffered neglect and exposure to infections but we are changing that narrative.

“Our vision is to eliminate period poverty, reduce absenteeism from school, and restore the dignity of the girl child as part of our contributions to preparing tomorrow’s woman.

“Period is supposed to end a sentence not a girl’s education,” she said.

Also speaking, a teacher in the school, Ngozi Njoku, thanked the organisation for the GAGAP initiative and urged the students to take the lessons from the lecture seriously.

She, however, called on government at all levels and well-spirited Nigerians to support the GAGAP initiative to enable the Centre to achieve its objectives.

A student of the school, Ada Ugochukwu, expressed gratitude for the free pads and health advice. 

In 2025, over 4,000 girls across Abuja, Lagos, Rivers, Imo and Nasarawa benefited from the GAGAP initiative. 

(NAN)