By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Towards enhancing menstrual hygiene promotion, Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria is making significant strides in redefining menstrual health management across the country through its flagship Menstrual Health No Wahala (MH-NoW) programme. Recognizing menstrual health as a critical public health, gender equality, and human rights issue, MH-NoW is working tirelessly to break down barriers of stigma, limited access, and misinformation, particularly among adolescent girls and young women.
A press statement by an official of PSI Nigeria, Temitope Alfred said that the MH-NoW programme is being implemented in six focus states – Bauchi, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Sokoto, and Akwa Ibom. The initiative aims to improve hygiene and build agency among women and girls, ensuring they manage menstruation with dignity, safety, and confidence.
According to the statement, notable milestone achieved by the programme is the development and official unveiling of a national Menstrual Health Manual and Facilitators’ Guide, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other stakeholders.. These tools are now being used nationwide to drive awareness, advocacy, and improved menstrual hygiene management.
Other notable achievements include:
– Training over 300 MH Champions, a network of health workers, teachers, media personalities, and community influencers, who are leading outreach campaigns and helping reshape public perception around menstruation.
– Producing the “Time of the Month” music video, a creative campaign leveraging Nollywood stars and music icons to amplify menstrual health messages and debunk long-standing myths.
– Supporting local production of affordable, reusable menstrual hygiene products, working with regulatory bodies to upgrade community-level manufacturing standards.
– Training journalists and media professionals across implementing states to improve menstrual health reporting and prioritization in mainstream and social media.
The statement further explained that the MH-NoW programme is not only improving health outcomes but also sparking a cultural shift toward greater equity, empowerment, and dignity for women and girls across Nigeria.
Part of the statement read, “By normalizing the conversation on menstrual health, increasing access to affordable products, and creating an environment where girls and women can manage their periods without shame or limitation, the programme is making a lasting impact”.
Our correspondent reports that, PSI Nigeria is a local affiliate of Population Services International (PSI), a global non-profit organization dedicated to making it easier for all people to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire. With a focus on designing solutions with women and girls to meet their sexual and reproductive health needs, PSI Nigeria works in partnership with local governments, ministries, and local organizations to create sustainable health solutions.
