SRHIN, YALI Ondo Commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day with Students Living with Disabilities

In commemoration of the 2025 Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Slum and Rural Health Initiative (SRHIN), Ondo State Chapter, in collaboration with YALI Network Ondo Hub, organized a special outreach titled “Dignity for All: Promoting Menstrual Hygiene and Preventing GBV among Students with Special Needs” at the Ondo State School for the Physically Impaired (OSSPI), Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State. The event, held on Friday, May 30, 2025, reached over 90 students with educational resources, sanitary materials, and vital conversations around gender-based violence prevention.

Speaking during the outreach, Emmanuel Adamolekun, SRHIN Ondo State Coordinator, noted that menstrual hygiene is a fundamental health and human rights issue that is often overlooked, especially among young girls with physical impairments. “Many girls with disabilities face heightened stigma, lack of adequate information, and poor access to sanitary products, which contributes to shame and absenteeism. This outreach seeks to bridge that gap and restore dignity,” he said.

Adamolekun emphasized that the initiative also focused on boys, as part of a broader strategy to foster gender sensitivity and prevent gender-based violence (GBV). “It is important that boys are included in the conversation, as they play a critical role in ending harmful stereotypes and behaviors. Educating them on respect, empathy, and inclusion is essential to long-term GBV prevention,” he added.

The outreach program featured interactive health education sessions, distribution of menstrual hygiene kits, and advocacy talks led by trained volunteers and health professionals. Partnering institutions, including the
Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA) and the Ondo State Ministry of Health, lent their support to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the program.

Participants, staff, and caregivers at OSSPI expressed deep appreciation for the initiative, noting its transformative impact on the students. As the event wrapped up, organizers reaffirmed their commitment to creating inclusive health interventions and called on government and private institutions to prioritize the menstrual health needs of people living with disabilities and to scale up education around gender equity and violence prevention.