By Kehinde Folarin
The Al-Mustapha Foundation for Youth Development (AFYD) and its partners have reached 150 children at Wassa IDP Camp Clinic in Abuja with menstrual hygiene supplies and awareness sessions to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
The intervention, held on Saturday ahead of the annual observance on October 11, targeted 100 girls and 50 boys, with the girls receiving sanitary pads intended to last six months.
Speaking during the outreach, AFYD Founder and Executive Director, Al-Mustapha A. Mustapha, said the initiative was aimed at helping girls manage menstruation with dignity while addressing the stigma surrounding the natural process.
“No girl should have to feel ashamed of a natural process or miss out on learning because she lacks sanitary products or the right information,” he said.
Mustapha said the outreach also included boys because menstrual health education should not be left to girls alone.
“Boys need to understand these issues and learn to support girls without teasing, discrimination or stigma,” he said.
He said the intervention went beyond distributing sanitary pads to providing children with information about menstruation, personal hygiene, puberty and body changes.
Mustapha called on government, corporate organisations, development partners and individuals to sustain interventions that support vulnerable children beyond commemorative events.
“Beyond marking special days, we need sustained interventions that support their health, education, safety and development,” he said.
He said the foundation remained open to partnerships with individuals and organisations willing to support its work with young people and vulnerable communities.
The outreach was organised in partnership with Light for Less Privileged Foundation, Mento Missy Initiative, Pent Foundation and Her Health Initiative.
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