The Development Centre for Orientation, Discovery and Empowerment (DeCODE) has raised concerns over the challenges thousands of adolescent girls in Anambra State face in accessing education due to poor menstrual health support, inadequate sanitation facilities and the stigma surrounding menstruation.
The organisation said these barriers continue to force many girls to miss classes every month, affecting their education and overall well-being.
Determined to reverse the trend, DeCODE has intensified its campaign for the adoption of a menstrual health and hygiene management policy in the state, insisting 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, funded by Rise Up Together, which seeks the adoption and phased implementation of the National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Policy in Anambra State.
Speaking on the initiative, the 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 shown that many girls lack adequate menstrual health information, have limited access to sanitary products, and face poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, as well as widespread social stigma associated with menstruation.
She noted that these challenges continue to affect girls’ school attendance, classroom participation and academic performance, making policy intervention necessary.
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 added that the organisation is engaging relevant government institutions through stakeholder consultations and key informant interviews to identify policy gaps and develop practical recommendations for the state.
According to her, the Anambra State 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 said 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.
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The organisation is also facilitating the establishment of the Anambra Menstrual Health Advocacy Coalition, which will 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 advance the campaign, the organisation paid an advocacy visit to the Permanent Secretary of the 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 positively impact 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 for Education on how the state could support its implementation.
