On 29 March 2026, the Grassroot People and Gender Development Center (GRADE) successfully organized a one-day Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) sensitization and capacity-building programme for 120 adolescent girls at Trophy Guide College, Igando, Ikotun LCDA, Lagos State.
The programme brought together girls from various secondary schools alongside school administrators and teachers to increase awareness, improve menstrual hygiene practices, dispel harmful myths surrounding menstruation, and encourage healthy menstrual management among adolescent girls.
The event featured educational presentations, interactive learning sessions, practical demonstrations, menstrual cycle tracking education, fun competitions, participant evaluations, and the distribution of menstrual hygiene materials. One significant finding from the programme was the extremely low awareness and use of reusable sanitary pads among participants. Less than ten girls had ever heard about reusable menstrual pads, while many disclosed that they sometimes relied on pieces of cloth (rags) during menstruation because they could not consistently afford disposable sanitary pads.
The programme concluded with a commitment pledge by participants to practice proper menstrual hygiene, challenge menstrual stigma, and share the knowledge gained with their peers.
