Menstrual Health Week in Port Harcourt: Establishing Period Support That Lasts

On Wednesday, 19th November 2025, the Buluzo Foundation took a significant step in its Menstrual Kit Bank campaign by officially expanding our work to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Menstrual Health Week outreach, held at Olobo Premier College, marked more than a one-day event, it represented the beginning of a sustainable menstrual support system within the school.

With the theme “Nature, Not Choice,” the outreach focused on breaking menstrual stigma, improving menstrual health knowledge, and ensuring that girls had consistent access to period support within their learning environment.

Why This Outreach Mattered

For many adolescent girls, menstruation remains a barrier to education, confidence, and participation in daily life. Limited access to menstrual products, accurate information, and safe spaces for conversation often leads to shame, absenteeism, and silence. Our goal in Port Harcourt was not only to address these challenges but to establish systems that would continue to support students long after our visit.

What We Did

The outreach was led by Nwaigbe Reina Amarachi, the Buluzo Foundation Team Lead for Port Harcourt, supported by a dedicated team of Buluzo Foundation volunteers. The program featured a carefully structured series of activities designed to educate, engage, and empower students.

A trained health practitioner delivered an interactive menstrual health talk, addressing hygiene practices, body changes, and common myths surrounding menstruation. This was followed by an educational film screening and a question-and-answer session, which created a safe space for students to ask candid questions and gain clarity.

To encourage peer support, students were introduced to Period Allies, male student advocates committed to supporting their peers and promoting menstrual dignity within the school. These students were formally inaugurated, reinforcing leadership and responsibility among the student body.

One of the most impactful outcomes of the day was the establishment of a Period Bank within the school. With approval from the school authorities, Buluzo Foundation set up a fully stocked period bank containing sanitary pads and essential hygiene materials, ensuring that students have ongoing access to support when they need it most. In addition, a school health club was created to sustain menstrual health advocacy and education.

Impact at a Glance

• Improved menstrual health knowledge among students

• Inauguration of student Period Allies

• Establishment of a school health club

• Introduction of a functional Period Bank

• High student engagement and participation

Looking Ahead

Our work in Port Harcourt reflects Buluzo Foundation’s commitment to going beyond distribution and building lasting menstrual support systems in schools. By combining education, peer leadership, and access to resources, we are helping to normalize conversations around menstruation and secure the next generation, one period at a time.

As we continue, we remain committed to expanding into more communities, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that no girl’s education or dignity is compromised by her period.