FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 2 June 2022- UNFPA, in June, joined His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, in commemorating the International Day of Menstrual Hygiene and in launching the 2022 Free Sanitary Pad Distribution Campaign by the President.

Speaking at the event, UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde A. Ahonsi said the theme for this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day – making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030 – emphasised the need to build a world where no girl is without safety supplies and has easy access to menstrual products, by 2030. 

Mr. Ahonsi commended the Government for working on programmes directed at reproductive education, health and rights, thus leaving no one behind, but called for the setting up of regulations for menstrual materials and determining the impact of policy proposals such as free sanitary pads in schools.

Bola Macauley, a pupil from the Methodist Girls’ High School, thanked, on behalf of adolescent girls, the First Lady’s Hands Off Our Girls campaign, which she said had helped in addressing the crises of rape, teenage pregnancy and early marriage.

First Lady Fatima Maada Bio in her statement appreciated the President for providing women the required space to be a part of nation building.

In his keynote address, President Julius Maada Bio reflected on the Government's support to adolescent girls.  “We have lifted the ban on pregnant girls in school because we believe that every girl, poor, pregnant, rural, living with a disability has an inalienable right to learn and be all that she can be. Equally so, we have introduced comprehensive sexuality education in schools so that girls learn about and know their bodies as they should.”

Media Contact:

John Baimba Sesay | Web and Media Analyst | UNFPA Sierra Leone | Tel. +232 30953193 | e-mail: jsesay@unfpa.org