International Day of the Girl Child 2026: Pad Me A Girl Reaches Over 15,000, Calls for More Support for Menstrual Health
The Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation has called on governments, schools, corporate organisations and development partners to increase investment in menstrual health and girls’ education as the world marks the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
The foundation’s founder, Theresa Moses, made the appeal on Sunday, October 11, 2026, warning that period poverty can worsen the challenges faced by vulnerable girls and contribute to the conditions that expose some of them to early marriage.
The 2026 celebration is themed “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”
In line with the theme, the foundation is advocating the establishment and expansion of school-based Pad Banks to ensure that girls from low-income families and underserved communities have access to sanitary products and menstrual health education.
Since its establishment on April 3, 2025, the foundation has reached more than 15,000 girls and women across Abuja, Ogun, Benue and Nasarawa states through the distribution of sanitary pads, provision of writing materials, menstrual health education and community outreach programmes.
Its interventions have also extended to vulnerable communities and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Area 1, Durumi, Abuja; Ortese in Benue State; and Kadarko in Nasarawa State.
However, the foundation said supplies of reusable sanitary pads had been exhausted in communities it supports across the three states, raising concerns about the continued availability of essential menstrual hygiene materials for beneficiaries.
Moses stressed the need for sustained support and partnerships to replenish supplies, expand the foundation’s programmes and improve access to educational opportunities for girls in vulnerable communities.
How Period Poverty Can Increase Girls’ Vulnerability
Period poverty refers to the inability to afford or access sanitary products and other essential resources needed to manage menstruation safely and with dignity.
For many girls, the lack of sanitary pads can make menstruation difficult to manage, leading to embarrassment, stigma and, in some cases, school absenteeism.
Girls who lack access to appropriate menstrual products and facilities may miss lessons or withdraw from classroom activities because they fear ridicule or discomfort.
Repeated interruptions to education can affect their academic progress, reduce their chances of completing school and limit their opportunities for financial independence.
In communities already affected by poverty, gender inequality and harmful social practices, these challenges may add to the pressures that push some families towards early marriage.
Although the lack of sanitary pads does not automatically lead to child marriage, period poverty can deepen the disadvantages that make some girls more vulnerable.
The foundation believes that improving menstrual health should therefore be part of broader efforts to protect girls’ rights, keep them in school and prevent child marriage.
Foundation Promotes School-Based Pad Banks
As part of its efforts to address period poverty, the Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation launched its Pad Bank Movement during World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025.
The initiative seeks to ensure that sanitary pads are readily available in schools, particularly for girls who cannot afford to purchase them regularly.
Through the programme, the foundation encourages schools to maintain stocks of menstrual hygiene products so that financial difficulties do not prevent girls from managing their periods or participating fully in academic activities.
It is also calling for the expansion of school-based Pad Banks, regular replenishment of supplies and stronger partnerships with sanitary product manufacturers, businesses, philanthropists and other development partners.
According to the foundation, these partnerships are essential to ensuring that menstrual health interventions reach more girls and remain sustainable over time.
Why Boys Should Be Included in Menstrual Health Education
Beyond providing sanitary products, the foundation is advocating age-appropriate menstrual health education for boys.
The initiative aims to help boys understand menstruation as a normal biological process and discourage practices such as period shaming, ridicule and discrimination against girls.
The foundation believes that involving boys in menstrual health discussions can help challenge harmful stereotypes and create a more supportive school environment.
When boys understand menstruation and treat it with respect, girls may feel more comfortable managing their periods without fear of embarrassment or harassment.
The approach also promotes shared responsibility for building inclusive learning environments where girls can pursue their education with dignity and confidence.
Appeal for Donations and Partnerships
With sanitary pad supplies reportedly depleted in supported IDP communities in Abuja, Benue and Nasarawa states, the foundation is appealing to individuals, organisations and members of the public to support its ongoing interventions.
It is seeking donations of sanitary pads, financial contributions and long-term partnerships to replenish supplies and sustain its menstrual health programmes.
The foundation is also urging governments and education authorities to support school-based Pad Banks, improve access to affordable menstrual products and strengthen child-protection and educational programmes aimed at addressing the wider factors associated with early marriage.
As the International Day of the Girl Child draws attention to girls’ rights, education and opportunities, the foundation maintains that meaningful progress requires practical interventions that directly benefit girls in vulnerable and underserved communities.
It says sustained investment in menstrual health can help remove barriers to education and enable more girls to pursue their aspirations without being held back by poverty or a lack of essential hygiene products.
How to Support Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation
Members of the public who wish to support the foundation’s work can contribute towards replenishing sanitary pad supplies and sustaining its menstrual health interventions.
Donation details:
- Account Name: PAD ME A GIRL EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION
- Account Number: 1988220123
- Bank: Access Bank
About Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation
Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to promoting menstrual health, hygiene awareness, education and girl-child empowerment, particularly among girls and women in underserved and vulnerable communities.
Through sanitary pad distribution, educational support and community outreach, the organisation seeks to reduce period poverty and help girls access the resources they need to remain in school and live with dignity.
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