In a recent community outreach in the Nyanya area of Abuja, the Rotary District Committee on Maternal and Child Health, in collaboration with Vina Daniel’s Foundation and four other humanitarian organizations, launched an initiative focused on menstrual health and hygiene. The project aims to support women and young girls through access to menstrual products and health education, addressing critical needs in an underserved area of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Founder of the Vina Daniels Foundation and Rotary Club member, Lovina Okorn-Ntui, highlighted the collaborative effort to bring essential healthcare items to nursing and expectant mothers in Nyanya. “We see significant need in areas of Abuja, and we aim to serve communities of diverse backgrounds,” she said, emphasizing the importance of outreach in the Nyanya-Karo area. This marks the Rotary District Committee’s first health initiative in this community, following previous projects in Bwari and Kubwa.
The outreach also included educational programs on menstrual hygiene, where participants learned to make their own reusable sanitary pads as a sustainable solution to period poverty. Okorn-Ntui stressed the environmental impact of disposable menstrual products, explaining how plastic waste from these items can take thousands of years to decompose. “By providing menstrual cups that can last up to five years, we’re helping families save costs while also reducing environmental harm,” she added.
In addition to menstrual products, the initiative distributed basic hygiene essentials like soap, towels, and shaving sticks. Secretary of Rotary District 9127, Rotarian Adeleke Ayanronke, explained, “Our goal is to ensure young girls and mothers have the resources they need to manage menstrual health effectively, addressing a gap in previous generations.”
The program also brought skills-based empowerment to the community, as attendees were taught how to produce sanitary pads for personal use or potential income. Presbyterian Church Senior Coordinator Mrs. Onyinijechi Nkata expressed gratitude, noting, “This knowledge is transformative for our community and offers both a resource for personal care and a means for economic empowerment.”
