ECOWAS Champions Menstrual Dignity With 5,000 Reusable Sanitary Kits For Benin Schoolgirls
In a bold step towards promoting menstrual dignity and keeping girls in school, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has distributed 5,000 reusable sanitary towel kits to secondary schoolgirls across 23 schools in Benin.
The distribution, held in Zé, was part of a larger regional initiative aimed at raising awareness on menstrual and personal hygiene while deepening young people’s understanding of ECOWAS’s mission.
Backed by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), the project supports the empowerment of girls by tackling the often-overlooked issue of menstrual insecurity.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Resident Representative, Mr Mamadou Konate underscored the institution’s commitment to its Vision 2050, stating: “Menstrual hygiene is a matter of dignity, health, and social justice. It should never be a barrier to education or self-esteem.”
The kits, proudly produced locally, will be fairly distributed through social welfare structures in Zè and Djidja. Beyond the handover, the event featured educational sessions for students and teachers, reinforcing hygiene practices and highlighting ECOWAS’s role in regional development.
Visibly moved, a student representative described the donation as “a life-changing gesture”, encouraging her peers to “never give up on their dreams”.
This initiative reinforces ECOWAS’s drive to build a people-centred community, where every girl has the opportunity to thrive with dignity.
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