Community Leader Calls for More Sanitary Pads for Girls

The Deputy Community Leader of Ekot Etonko in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Mr. Effiok Okon, has appealed to the government and well-meaning organisations to regularly provide free sanitary pads for young women and schoolgirls in the community.

Okon made the appeal during a sanitary pad distribution outreach organised by PadBank, a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting menstrual hygiene and ending period poverty.

He commended the initiative as “a blessing to mothers and daughters alike,” noting that many girls in the community often miss school during their menstrual periods due to lack of access to sanitary materials.

The event, held on Wednesday, was part of PadBank’s Mobile Outreach 3.0 campaign, which aims to reach 12 communities across Cross River State before the end of the year.

Speaking at the outreach, PadBank Coordinator, Madam Archibong Bassey, said the programme was designed to restore dignity and improve school attendance among girls.

“When a girl misses school every month because she lacks sanitary pads, it’s not just her future that’s affected—it’s the future of the community,” she said. “Menstrual hygiene is a right, not a privilege.”

Bassey explained that PadBank’s operations are sustained through the support of volunteers and private donors dedicated to women’s health and empowerment.

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Also speaking, the Face of PadBank, Victoria Omini, said the outreach was driven by compassion and a desire to help girls live confidently during their menstrual cycles.

“No girl should feel ashamed or drop out of school because of menstruation,” she said. “What we do is not just charity—it’s empowerment.”

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The event featured interactive sessions on menstrual hygiene and reproductive health, followed by the distribution of free sanitary pads to women and schoolgirls in attendance.