Amidst the alarming global gaps in menstrual health infrastructure, advocates have sounded the alarm on the urgent need for action to end period poverty.
It is within this context that Buy Me A Pad, a flagship campaign of Women Unite 4 WASH (WU4W) under the Network on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (NEWSAN), marked Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 with a renewed commitment to end period poverty and building a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.
The initiative is not only supplying menstrual hygiene products but also addressing the systemic barriers that prevent women and girls especially those with disabilities from managing their periods with dignity.
A 2023 report by WHO and UNICEF (Washnorm) revealed that only two in five schools worldwide provide menstrual health education, and just one in three offer proper disposal facilities for menstrual waste. These figures show a persistent global failure to support the menstrual needs of girls and women- one that fuels gender inequality, school absenteeism, and health risks.
To commemorate the Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, Buy Me A Pad has highlighted its efforts to make menstruation safer, more dignified, and more inclusive.
The theme of this year’s celebration, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” shows the campaign’s vision of a society where menstruation no longer hinders access to education, health, or opportunity especially for girls and women living with disabilities.
The initiative was born out of the real-life struggles faced by millions of girls across Nigeria and beyond who are unable to afford or access menstrual hygiene products. Many are forced to miss school, skip work, or resort to unsafe alternatives during their periods.
“We are not just providing pads- we are restoring dignity, opening doors, and making voices heard,” said Funmi Olonlunmola, a representative of the campaign.
The initiative noted that real change requires more than grassroots effort- it needs policy and investment. In line with global calls, Buy Me A Pad is urging governments, development agencies, and the private sector to prioritize menstrual health through inclusive funding, education, and infrastructure.
“This is a human rights issue,” the organization emphasized. “We believe that every woman and girl, regardless of ability, deserves access to safe, affordable, and dignified menstrual care. Together, we can normalize menstruation and remove it as a barrier to opportunity.”
WU4W also called on individuals, communities, and institutions to break the silence around periods, advocate for inclusive solutions, and join the movement for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.
“Let’s work together to make a difference in the lives of women and girls, including those with disabilities.”
Over the years, Buy Me A Pad has grown into a multi-dimensional effort. It has distributed thousands of disposable and reusable sanitary pads and provided critical education on menstrual hygiene management, safe pad disposal, and the production of sustainable menstrual products. These interventions has helped empower women and girls with both resources and knowledge.
The results are already visible. Through community sensitization efforts, hands-on workshops, and public education campaigns, Buy Me A Pad is not only equipping girls with products but also shifting societal attitudes.
“Each pad made, each girl empowered with knowledge, and each conversation about menstruation brings us closer to a world where no one is held back because of their period,” Olonlunmola added.
As a step forward, the campaign recently acquired pad production machines to expand its supply of reusable sanitary pads. The move is aimed at boosting local production, creating economic opportunities for women, and ensuring a sustainable supply of menstrual hygiene products for underserved populations.
Women and girls with disabilities face additional barriers to managing their menstruation and the initiative has adapted its programs to ensure accessibility, provide tailored training and distribute menstrual products in schools, IDP camps, and disability-focused organizations.