By Chinedum Treasure
The Anambra State Government is taking steps to adopt a comprehensive Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Policy aimed at protecting the dignity, health and educational rights of girls and women, following disturbing findings that menstruation is forcing many schoolgirls to miss classes.
The proposed policy received a major boost after the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Esther Onyekesi, pledged her full support for its development and eventual adoption by the state government.
Onyekesi gave the assurance in Awka during an advocacy visit by the Development Centre for Orientation, Discovery and Empowerment (DeCODE), led by its Executive Director and Coordinator of the Anambra Menstrual Health Advocacy Coalition (AMHAC), Mrs Cynthia Enweonwu-Arinze.
The Commissioner described the proposed policy as a priority that aligned with the ministry’s responsibilities, promising to mobilise relevant departments, including the Office of the Permanent Secretary, to facilitate the process.
“I’m already in. It’s what I want. When somebody brings something you’ve been clamouring for, what do you do? Support with 100 per cent. You have my support 100 per cent,” she declared.
She also expressed optimism that the policy would eventually receive the approval of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The proposed Anambra State Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Policy is expected to establish a comprehensive framework for tackling menstrual health challenges through coordinated government action, clearly defined institutional responsibilities, sustainable funding and accountability mechanisms.
Presenting the advocacy brief, Enweonwu-Arinze explained that the policy would translate national commitments on menstrual health into practical interventions at the state level, ensuring that the issue receives sustained attention in government planning, budgeting and public programmes.
She said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare would provide leadership in driving the adoption process, while civil society organisations would offer technical assistance and advocacy support.
According to her, the immediate priority is to work with the ministry to move the draft policy and its implementation framework through the necessary government review processes for eventual approval by the governor.
She stressed that adopting the policy alone would not be enough without dedicated budgetary allocations and sustained implementation.
The proposed framework will address access to affordable menstrual products, adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools, comprehensive menstrual health education and the special needs of girls living with disabilities.
The urgency of the intervention is underscored by findings from a situation assessment conducted by DeCODE under its Menstrual Ease for Girls (ME4Girls) Project in 12 public secondary schools across six local government areas.
The assessment, which involved 1,315 students, revealed that 25.4 per cent of the girls had missed school because of menstruation within the preceding three months.
More troubling, 83.8 per cent identified free or affordable menstrual products as their most pressing need.
The survey also exposed serious deficiencies in school sanitation facilities. Only two of the 12 schools had toilets rated clean and safe, while just three had functional handwashing stations. Only four schools had formal written menstrual health policies.
Girls with disabilities faced even greater challenges. The assessment showed that 78.3 per cent of students who disclosed a disability reported that their school toilets were available but unusable, compared with 36.9 per cent of students without a disclosed disability.
Enweonwu-Arinze said the findings demonstrated the need for a comprehensive policy response rather than isolated interventions.
Also speaking, the project consultant, Dr Rose Amasiani, described the proposed policy as a critical instrument for protecting menstrual health rights, correcting misconceptions and ensuring that girls and women have access to appropriate information, sanitary materials and adequate facilities.
She expressed concern over the rising cost of sanitary pads and called for sustainable government interventions to make menstrual products affordable and accessible.
While commending ongoing sanitary pad distribution initiatives by the First Lady of Anambra State, Amasiani maintained that a structured policy framework was necessary to guarantee continuity and institutional commitment beyond individual interventions.
The advocacy process has already recorded progress with the establishment of AMHAC following a stakeholder workshop organised by DeCODE on August 21, 2026. The workshop attracted 51 participants from government institutions, civil society organisations, the media and the ME4Girls project team.
The coalition subsequently inaugurated a Technical Working Group, which met on September 11, 2026, to review the draft policy and its proposed implementation framework.
The meeting examined institutional responsibilities, coordination arrangements, financing, phased implementation, monitoring and accountability, and adopted a communiqué outlining recommendations for advancing the document.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Nkeiru Mokwe, and other government officials attended the advocacy visit.
Tags: Anambra State, Menstrual Health, Girls’ Education, Soludo
