‘Menstrual health should not be surrounded by shame’

As the world commemorates World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28 with the theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” menstrual health advocate and founder of Virtuous Pads, Tabitha Arenson-Abimiku, says many girls in Nigeria still face period poverty, forcing some to miss school several days every month. In this interview, she speaks on menstrual health awareness, […]

As the world commemorates World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28 with the theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” menstrual health advocate and founder of Virtuous Pads, Tabitha Arenson-Abimiku, says many girls in Nigeria still face period poverty, forcing some to miss school several days every month. In this interview, she speaks on menstrual health awareness, the need to end stigma around menstruation, her journey into producing reusable sanitary pads, and efforts to support girls in schools and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

 

Today is World Menstrual Hygiene Day. What message do you have for everyone as a menstrual health and hygiene advocate?

World Menstrual Hygiene Day is dedicated to raising awareness about period poverty and ending the stigma surrounding menstruation.

Period poverty is a reality in which girls and women lack access to affordable menstrual products, clean water, education, and safe spaces to manage their periods. The day serves as a reminder that menstruation should not limit anyone’s opportunities or dignity.

This year’s theme is “Together for a Period-Friendly World,” and the mission is simple — ensuring that everyone who menstruates has access to menstrual products, sanitation facilities, menstrual health education, and healthcare support.

One of the issues often neglected is period pain. I remember visiting a school where a girl told me she was placed on a drip every month because of menstrual pain. Menstruation is a natural biological process, so it should not be extremely painful to the point where someone cannot function normally.

There is a difference between mild discomfort and severe pain caused by underlying medical conditions such as endometriosis or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Many girls ignore these symptoms because they assume it is normal period pain. Early medical attention can prevent complications later in life.

We are also launching a programme called Blooming Together, designed to help mothers guide their daughters through conversations about puberty and menstruation. From the stories we collected, many women said they thought they were dying when they first menstruated because nobody prepared them.

We need to be proactive. Conversations about puberty should begin early, even before menstruation starts. Puberty begins with changes such as breast development and body hair growth, long before the first period.

There are also infrastructural gaps. Schools should have girl-friendly toilets and sanitation facilities. Policymakers, governments, and the private sector need to prioritise menstrual health and hygiene through policies and investments that address the realities girls face daily.

 

Why did you start making reusable pads?

My motivation came from personal experience. I also experienced period poverty and had to rely on alternatives like rags.

In 2017, while visiting an IDP camp, I met girls who desperately needed sanitary pads. One girl from Borno asked me for a pad, and I promised to bring one the next day. When I returned, several other girls gathered around asking for pads too.

My friends and I began including sanitary pads in our donations, but because we were self-funded, we could not sustain it every month. The girls would ask why we had not returned, saying they had gone back to using rags.

That experience pushed me to look for a lasting solution. While shopping online, I discovered reusable pads. I bought materials from Wuse Market, traced a disposable pad design, and hand-sewed the first reusable pads using needle and thread.

We made about 10 reusable pads and distributed them in the camp. The girls were excited because they finally had something they could keep and reuse. That was a turning point for us.

Later, I applied for a grant from the Tony Elumelu Foundation and received $5,000 in 2019. That support helped us acquire machines and begin production on a small scale.

Period poverty is a serious issue. Many girls miss three to four days of school every month because they cannot afford sanitary products. Some rely on dirty rags, newspapers, or other unsafe materials, exposing them to infections.

 

How do girls cope in communities with limited access to water?

We designed Virtuous Pads carefully to ensure they are convenient and hygienic.

When the soiled pad is soaked briefly in water, most of the blood comes out easily. The user can then wash it with a small amount of soap and water. The fabric dries quickly, is breathable, and does not retain stains.

We also sterilise the pads using UV light before packaging them to ensure hygiene and safety.

 

In what other ways do you give back to society?

We created the Girls Dignity Foundation as the social impact arm of the business because we never wanted to forget the girls who inspired this journey.

Through partnerships with organisations, we visit communities and schools to educate girls on menstrual health and hygiene. We also train girls to make reusable pads themselves, especially in underserved communities.

One of our initiatives, Spark Her, focuses on mentorship and peer education. We believe menstrual education should go beyond simply distributing pads.

Which schools and communities have you reached so far?

We have visited schools and communities in the Federal Capital Territory, including GSS Karu, GSS Jabi, City College, Kuchigoro, Kilmajaji, Life Camp, and Gbagalape. We have also carried out outreach programmes in parts of Nasarawa State.

 

What is your vision for the next five years?

We want Virtuous Pads to become more than just a pad-producing organisation. We hope to build a research and advocacy hub focused on menstrual health data and policy development.

Menstruation should not only be viewed as a girls’ issue but as a public health concern that affects millions of women and girls across the country.

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