By Ita Williams, Calabar
In her effort to give back to society and contribute to the vulnerable through humanitarian efforts, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, has unveiled her pet project, “Padbank Mobile Outreach”.
This is a personal initiative designed to address menstrual hygiene challenges among vulnerable girls in our urban and rural communities.
Speaking on Wednesday at Adiabo Ikot Mbo Out community, Odukpani local government area, during an outreach to mark International Humanitarian Day, Comrade Bassey stated that the project was inspired by a casual conversation with a friend and shaped by the struggles many teenage girls face during their menstrual cycle due to poverty.
“The project, themed Restoring Dignity, Keeping Girls in School, is about ensuring that no girl is humiliated or dehumanized because she cannot afford sanitary pads,” she said.
“No girl ever asked for a menstrual cycle; it is a natural gift from God. Padbank seeks to bridge that gap and restore dignity to every girl.”
During the event, dozens of girls received free sanitary pads and training on menstrual hygiene. Bassey further enumerated that, though currently self-funded, the project aims to build a sustainable “Padbank” that will provide a steady supply of sanitary products to girls in need.
She cited a recent Cross River study that found 58.2 per cent of urban girls and 25.8 per cent of rural girls missed school due to a lack of sanitary pads.
“Nationally, UNICEF reports that 23 per cent of adolescent girls missed school in the past year because of menstruation,” she added.
Beneficiaries expressed relief and gratitude. “Sometimes I have to stay at home when I don’t have pads because I am afraid of being laughed at in school. With what I got today, I feel more confident,” said Favour Ita, one of the participants.
Community leaders, including Chief Akpabio Okon Abasi and his wife, Veronica, commended the initiative. “What Padbank is doing goes beyond distributing pads; it is about giving girls confidence, dignity, and a chance to stay in school,” Mrs. Abasi said.
According to projections, Padbank hopes to distribute 8,000 sanitary towels across 12 underserved communities, organise 36 psychosocial support sessions, and create safe spaces for girls to discuss menstrual health issues without stigma.
