The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), South-South Caucus, in collaboration with the Eliora Foundation, has commemorated the 2026 Menstrual Hygiene Day by educating female students of Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Okubo Offot, Uyo, on menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and personal cleanliness.
The event, held at the school’s conference hall, attracted a large number of female students who participated actively in the awareness programme aimed at promoting healthy menstrual practices and improving knowledge of reproductive health among adolescent girls.
Speaking during the programme, the Caucus Leader of NARD South-South, Dr. Margaret Egan Erhunmwunsee, said the initiative was designed to educate young girls on menstrual hygiene management, reproductive health, and the importance of developing positive health-seeking behaviours.
She explained that menstruation is a natural biological process and emphasized the need for proper hygiene during menstrual periods. Dr. Erhunmwunsee also demonstrated the correct use of sanitary pads and proper disposal methods to help the students maintain good personal hygiene.
According to her, understanding menstruation and reproductive health is essential for every young girl as it prepares them for adulthood and motherhood. She encouraged the students to seek professional medical advice whenever they experience health challenges and to prioritize their overall well-being.
Also speaking, former Welfare Secretary of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr. Emem Ekwere, described menstruation, commonly referred to as a period, as a normal and natural process experienced by girls and women of reproductive age.
She noted that menstruation is neither a disease nor something to be ashamed of, explaining that the menstrual cycle is the body’s natural preparation for a possible pregnancy. When pregnancy does not occur, the lining of the uterus is shed through menstruation.
Dr. Ekwere stated that a normal menstrual cycle ranges between 21 and 35 days, while menstrual bleeding typically lasts between two and seven days. She highlighted common symptoms associated with menstruation, including lower abdominal pain, back pain, headaches, mood changes, fatigue, and weakness.
She advised the students to seek medical attention whenever symptoms become severe and stressed the importance of changing sanitary pads every four to six hours, bathing regularly, and keeping the genital area clean using only clean water.
In her remarks, the Secretary of the Resident Doctors Association in Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Comfort Eno, clarified misconceptions surrounding menstruation, explaining that menstrual blood is not “bad blood” but a natural process through which the body sheds the lining of the uterus each month.
The doctors urged the students to embrace healthy menstrual practices, maintain good personal hygiene, and avoid stigma associated with menstruation. They also encouraged them to become advocates of menstrual health awareness among their peers and within their communities.
The outreach programme formed part of activities marking Menstrual Hygiene Day and underscored the commitment of NARD South-South and the Eliora Foundation to promoting the health and well-being of adolescent girls across the region.