Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The Development Centre for Orientation, Discovery and Empowerment (DeCODE) has decried the prevailing situation where thousands of adolescent girls in Anambra State continue to face avoidable barriers to education every month due to inadequate menstrual health support, poor sanitation facilities, and the stigma surrounding menstruation keep many away from the classroom.
Determined to reverse the trend, the group has intensified its campaign for the adoption of a menstrual health and hygiene management policy in the state, arguing that no girl should have to choose between managing her menstrual period and pursuing her education.
The advocacy is being driven through DeCODE’s Menstrual Ease for Girls (ME4Girls) Project, which is funded by Rise Up Together and seeks the adoption and phased implementation of the National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Policy in Anambra.
Project Lead of the ME4Girls Project, Mrs. Cynthia Enweonwu-Arinze, said the campaign builds on more than eight years of DeCODE’s work with adolescent girls in schools and communities across the state.
According to her, the organisation’s engagements have consistently revealed that many girls struggle with inadequate menstrual health information, poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, limited access to sanitary products and widespread social stigma associated with menstruation.
She said these challenges continue to affect girls’ school attendance, participation in classroom activities and academic performance, making policy intervention imperative.
Enweonwu-Arinze disclosed that DeCODE is currently conducting a menstrual health situation assessment in 12 public secondary schools across six local government areas to generate evidence that will guide policy development and implementation.
She said the organisation is also engaging relevant government institutions through stakeholder consultations and key informant interviews to identify policy gaps and develop practical recommendations for Anambra State.
According to her, the Ministry of Education remains a key partner because public secondary schools are the primary focus of the project and the ministry will play a central role in implementing any policy adopted.
She added that DeCODE is advocating not only for the adoption of the national policy but also for the development of a state implementation framework involving the Ministries of Education, Health and Women Affairs.
The organisation is equally facilitating the establishment of the Anambra Menstrual Health Advocacy Coalition to bring together government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and community groups to promote coordinated action on menstrual health and hygiene.
DeCODE expressed optimism that findings from the ongoing school assessments and stakeholder engagements would strengthen advocacy for policies that improve girls’ health, dignity and educational outcomes while reducing school absenteeism linked to poor menstrual health management.
As part of efforts to drive the reform, the organisation paid an advocacy visit to the Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Education, Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu, who received the delegation on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ekene Ogugua.
Agbaizu welcomed the initiative, describing it as one that would benefit female students across the state’s public secondary schools.
“I welcome this initiative because it is in the interest of our female children in secondary schools,” she said.
She added that since a national menstrual health policy already exists, the ministry would study DeCODE’s advocacy brief and engage the Commissioner on how the state could support the initiative.
