By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Joan Faluyi is the executive director and convener of Blossom Flow Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that empowers girls in Nigeria with menstrual health education and resources to fight against period poverty and promote menstrual equity.
Faluyi is passionate about the challenges of period poverty among teenage girls, emphasizing the need for accessible menstrual hygiene products and comprehensive menstrual health education.
Faluyi, in this interview with Daily Sun, spoke about females bleeding in silence as the price of sanitary pads becomes more expensive, and how the dignity of women could be restored through promoting menstrual health. According to her, underneath the façade of supposedly bubbly girls living daily lives in many parts of Nigeria lies the problem of lack of access to proper menstrual hygiene management tools or kits. From schools to business places and religious organisations, among others, a lot of women and girls face the harsh reality of inability to manage their periods due to poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, common in many low- and middle-income earners, where females are at the top. The issue of privacy and dignity during menstruation is still one area in which women and girls in Nigeria have failed every day. All of these further take a toll on the emotional life, education and productivity of the girl child, among others.
What informed your decision to set up an NGO, Blossom Flow Foundation?
A lot of females bleed in silence as prices of sanitary pads are becoming more expensive. I thought of what to do to prevent genital tract infections due to unhygienic means of handling periods. I deliberately mapped out a plan and started the distribution of sanitary towels to adolescent girls. pregnant women and inmates. Imagine a female missing school or work every month because they can’t afford sanitary pads. This is the reality of a lot Nigerian women and girls.
Sadly, the current high cost of sanitary pads has pushed many more into period poverty, restricting their ability to work, study and participate in daily life.
I acknowledge the struggles of millions of girls and women in Nigeria who face period poverty, stigma and shame. Women and girls don’t have the things they need to manage their periods safely, hygienically and free from embarrassment. Every woman and girl in Nigeria should have access to the menstrual products, education, and support they need to thrive with dignity and confidence.
What about the flagship project you have initiated to combat period poverty?
The project was inaugurated on Children’s Day this year because I wanted to educate and impart knowledge. We were able to distribute sanitary pads to girls, creating awareness of menstrual hygiene and the essence of using sanitary pads, rather than toilet rolls or rags, among other unhygienic substances, for periods.
I have been able to demonstrate my commitment towards addressing important issues affecting the community. I have been to schools in Lagos in urban and rural areas, where I made donations. I have distributed over 5,000 pads and still counting. Recently, we were at Festac Girls’, in conjunction with the old girls’ association, where over 800 pads were distributed.
Yours is a grassroots initiative to challenge the stigma, but how have you been able to fare in tackling it?
This is capital-intensive and I have been doing it for years using my personal funds. My focus is is on menstrual hygiene because I want to restore the dignity and equally build the confidence of teenage girls. Our mission focuses on combating period poverty. It extends beyond ground-level campaigns; it’s about shaping systems that support women in all environments.
Period poverty is a significant barrier to education and quality of life for many girls and women in Nigeria. Lack of access to sanitary products can lead to missed school days, health complications, and a perpetuation of stigma and shame surrounding menstruation.
The awareness is on the importance of menstrual health, hygiene and environmental sustainability. I was thrilled at the launch of a new plastic waste collection point, a significant step towards reducing waste and supporting menstrual health for girls in need.
Women and girls experience challenges in menstrual hygiene management. How do we push for policies and implementation work to address it?
Addressing the challenges of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for women and girls requires a multifaceted approach that includes advocacy for policies, educational initiatives and community engagement. We need to conduct workshops and awareness campaigns to inform communities about the importance of menstrual hygiene and the challenges women and girls face.
Also implement educational programmes in schools to teach young people about menstruation, breaking down stigmas and misinformation.
Moreso, mobilize communities to advocate for policies that support MHM, such as free or subsidized menstrual products, and adequate sanitation facilities in schools and public places.
As an NGO, I have collaborated with other organizations to meet needs and to amplify efforts in promoting menstrual hygiene and influencing policy change. However, we have to encourage businesses and well-meaning Nigeriàns to support MHM initiatives, such as providing menstrual products to schools and community centres. Additionally, we push for programmes that provide free or low-cost menstrual products to low-income individuals. We are setting up schemes to distribute menstrual products in schools, shelters and communities, ensuring availability at all times. Part of the advocacy for improved sanitation facilities in schools includes private spaces for changing and disposal options for used products. Ensure that teachers and school staff are trained to support students experiencing menstruation. Our success in pushing for policies to address menstrual hygiene management will require the collaboration of various stakeholders, including government entities, civil society, schools and the private sector. A sustainable approach that considers the voices and needs of women and girls is essential for fostering long-term change.
Considering the economic crisis in Nigeria and high cost of living, purchasing sanitary pads might be a bitter pill to swallow…
Aside from the challenge adolescent girls face to get sanitary pads for their monthly period, I am passionate about women empowerment and welfare. I saw the need, especially with poor income earners, and started supporting teenage girls by donating sanitary towels. I go to schools and communities where the demands and voices of these ones are not heard.
Society should prioritize the voices, demands, priorities, needs and choices of women, girls and people who menstruate themselves, for they are the experts of their own contexts and experiences. Period poverty has roots in lack of resources, marginalization, racism, sexism, misogyny, resistance to change and cultural norms. It is essential for everyone to talk about this to reduce period stigma and increase access to period products for all people who menstruate.
How impactful has this initiative been?
The sanitary pad supply campaign in Nigeria is poised to fight period poverty. The campaign is aimed at empowering girls and women across Nigeria. The foundation is providing a one-year supply of sanitary pads to girls in all 36 states, giving them the dignity, confidence and freedom they deserve.
In many parts of Nigeria, young girls and women face significant barriers to managing their menstrual health with dignity and ease. For some, the cost of sanitary pads is a challenge, leading to missed school days, lowered self-esteem and compromised health. This shouldn’t be the story for any girl. Blossomflow Foundation, is a leading advocate for women’s health and empowerment. Our mission to change that narrative with this sanitary pad supply campaign in Nigeria.
This nationwide effort to support girls and women in Nigeria who lack access to sanitary products. This sanitary pad supply campaign in Nigeria gives individuals the opportunity to receive a one-year supply of sanitary pads by simply sharing their personal stories about why they need this essential support. By encouraging openness and storytelling, we hope to break the stigma surrounding menstruation and foster conversations around period health. We are saddled with the responsibility of tutoring young girls in mostly rural and underserved communities. As we progress in addressing the challenge of period poverty, however, we intend to educate them on menstrual hygiene. That’s why we are distributing sanitary towels to them to save them from societal rot. We aim to address deep-seated menstrual taboos, common among many Nigerian tribes that serve as setbacks to proper menstrual hygiene management. With all of these, the period poverty struggle made worse by poor water sanitation and hygiene facilities in Nigerian communities continues. There is still an urgent need to increase sensitization, and advocacy to break menstrual taboos, reduce cost and improve access to menstrual hygiene products.