INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE: “Exposing an age old stigma deeply rooted in our traditions”.
As the world commemorates International Menstrual Hygiene Day, a powerful voice emerges from Nigeria—one that aimed at challenging an age-old stigma, spotlight hidden struggles, and demand real, lasting solutions.
That voice is the SaveMePadMe initiative—plating a documentary project composed by a passionate, sponsored Nigerian medical students studying abroad, yet deeply committed to transforming their homeland, particularly Jigawa State.
The SaveMePadMe documentary was created not merely to tell stories, but to spark a movement with a profound mission: to break the silence around menstruation through education, while combating stigma with knowledge, and restoring dignity by ensuring every girl—especially in underserved and rural communities—has access to safe and affordable sanitary pads.
Through heartfelt interviews, real-life experiences, and collaborations with key healthcare professionals—Asst Prof .Burcu Ozbakir MD.MSC , Dr. Lara Sawah (OBGYN), and Dr. Ibrahim Shuaibu ibrahim of the Near East Hospital, TRNC . as well as dedicated medical professionals from our homeland, the documentary captures the voices of young girls who live with the realities of period poverty, school absenteeism, and deep-rooted taboos. For these girls, menstruation is not just a biological process—it is a barrier.
We, the student doctors behind this project, have chosen to use our medical knowledge, advocacy skills, and love for our people to serve as bridge—connecting the global discourse on menstrual hygiene with the local challenges faced in Jigawa and beyond. We are proud to be the Ambassadors of our state, and we want our work to reflect not just our training, but our heart for community development.
Our calls are clear, heartfelt, and rooted in the needs of our communities.
To achieve our goals, we are actively engaging state and local governments, stakeholders and partnering with NGOs for a stronger, united effort.
These solutions we are advocating for are not just dreams; they are calls to action—calls that directly align with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 6, SDG 10, and SDG 17.
We are also grateful to our able and visionary Governor, Mal Umar A Namadi, FCA whose leadership continues to pave way for education and healthcare in Jigawa.
As young Ambassadors of the state and future health leaders, we are adamant that we can make our state a model for menstrual dignity in Nigeria and Africa at large.
SaveMePadMe is more than a documentary. It is a pledge, a promise to our sisters, a purpose we carry with pride. And we won’t stop until every girl can bleed with dignity, learn without shame, and live without fear.
A Period should end a sentence Not a girl’s education. _Malala yousafzai
The official trailer of SaveMePadMe will be released in July 2025, while the full documentary premieres in August 2025.
Authored By:
1- Rahma Ahmad Gumel (Project Leader)
2- Salma Ado Jahun
3- Abdulkarim Suleiman Usman
4- Ahmad Sadiq Abubakar
5-Zainab Munkaila
6- Zainab Yusuf Makama
7- Maryam Ibrahim Aliyu
Medical students @ Near east University
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Muhammad Zangina kura
