Anambra Coalition Formed to Enhance Girls' Menstrual Health

Key stakeholders across Anambra State convened to support the adoption and domestication of Nigeria’s National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Policy, emphasizing its importance for the health, dignity, and educational continuity of adolescent girls. This resolution emerged from a high-level workshop organized by the Development Centre for Orientation, Discovery and Empowerment (DeCODE) under the Menstrual Ease for Girls (ME4Girls) Project, funded by Rise Up Together.

Participants included representatives from the Ministries of Education, Health, and Women Affairs and Social Welfare, along with the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC) and various civil society organizations. A significant outcome was the establishment of the Anambra Menstrual Health Advocacy Coalition, aimed at coordinating policy engagement and advocacy.

The coalition will work to ensure comprehensive menstrual health education and access to gender-responsive WASH infrastructure in schools. Participants urged the Anambra State Government to create a robust implementation framework for public secondary schools, focusing on embedding menstrual health education and improving sanitation facilities.