NUJ Cross River Chairman Launches PADBANK to Combat Period Poverty on World Humanitarian Day

NUJ Cross River Chairman Launches PADBANK to Combat Period Poverty on World Humanitarian Day

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

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As part of activities marking the 2025 World Humanitarian Day, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Archibong Bassey, has unveiled a bold humanitarian initiative tagged PADBANK. The project seeks to address the challenges of period poverty and restore dignity to teenage girls and women, especially those in rural communities who lack access to basic menstrual hygiene products.

Akahi News learnt that the initiative was flagged off during a community outreach programme at Adiabo Ikot Mbo Otu in Cross River State, drawing the attention of residents, stakeholders, and humanitarian groups.

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PADBANK: A Lifeline for Teenage Girls

Speaking at the event, NUJ Chairman and coordinator of the project, Archibong Bassey, explained that PADBANK was born out of a simple yet profound conversation with a friend about the struggles teenage girls from less privileged backgrounds face in accessing sanitary towels.

According to her, the initiative targets the distribution of 80,000 sanitary pads across 12 rural communities within the space of one year.

“I was once a teenager, and I know the struggles that come with menstrual hygiene. No girl asked for a menstrual cycle, so none should be humiliated or dehumanised because of it. This initiative is about bridging that gap and ensuring dignity for every girl,” she said.

Bassey further revealed that PADBANK is currently self-funded, but called on well-meaning Nigerians, non-governmental organisations, and religious bodies to support the project in order to expand its reach.

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The Urgency of Support and Partnerships

Highlighting the plight of women in rural communities, the NUJ Chairman cited the case of a 24-year-old girl who recently begged for as little as ₦5,000 to buy sanitary towels and painkillers.

“It broke me to see that a young woman had to beg for something as basic as a sanitary towel. That is why we are appealing for partnerships so that PADBANK can always have stock to reach out to girls in need,” she stressed.

The call for collaboration echoes the urgent need to address period poverty in Nigeria, where many women and girls still resort to unsafe alternatives during menstruation, putting their health and dignity at risk.

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Advocacy and Changing Narratives

The Public Relations Officer of PADBANK, Ukoroebi Essien, also spoke at the outreach, emphasising that menstrual health should not be viewed as a luxury or taboo.

“What we are doing is not charity; it is a necessity. When girls miss school or lose confidence because they cannot manage their periods, society loses too. PADBANK is committed to changing that narrative in Cross River and beyond,” Essien said.

This aligns with global campaigns that advocate menstrual hygiene as a basic human right rather than a privilege.

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Community Support and Impact

The team was warmly received by Chief Ukpabio Okon Abasi, the community head of health, who praised the NUJ leadership for such a forward-thinking initiative. He pledged full community support, noting that the project would have a long-lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable girls.

The outreach concluded with the distribution of free sanitary pads to young girls and women, many of whom expressed heartfelt gratitude to Bassey and her team for the life-changing gesture.

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The launch of PADBANK by the Cross River NUJ Chairman marks a significant step towards eliminating period poverty and restoring dignity to girls and women in rural communities. With more support and partnerships, the initiative could expand across the state and beyond, ensuring that no girl is left behind because of her menstrual cycle.

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