Liberia Puts Pad Banks in Schools to End Period Poverty

Thousands of girls in Liberia can now attend school every single day of the month, thanks to free menstrual pad dispensers installed in public schools across the country.

The Menstrual Hygiene Management Pad Banks launched on January 28, 2026, at E.J. Goodridge High School in Barnesville. The United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF partnered with Liberia's Ministry of Education to bring the dispensers to schools in Montserrado, Grand Gedeh, and Rivercess counties.

For too many girls, getting their period meant choosing between managing it with dignity or going to class. Many simply stayed home, falling behind in their studies or dropping out entirely.

"This is about whether a girl's biology should determine her education," said Education Minister Jarso M. Jallah at the launch ceremony. She emphasized that the dispensers provide reliable, discreet access to menstrual products right where girls need them most.

The pad banks are part of the Nurture, Empower, and Protect Programme, a five-year initiative funded by the Government of Ireland. Launched in April 2025, the program targets girls aged 10 to 19 and provides sexual and reproductive health services, nutrition support, and safe learning environments.

Ireland's Head of Development and Cooperation, Meg Beare, noted that menstrual health connects directly to education, dignity, and gender equality. When girls miss school because they lack sanitary products, entire communities lose out on their potential contributions.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond keeping girls in their seats. When girls attend school consistently, they perform better academically, stay enrolled longer, and gain confidence that carries into adulthood.

The program will ultimately benefit more than 100,000 adolescent girls. Each dispenser represents one less barrier between a girl and her education, one less day spent at home in shame or discomfort.

The launch ceremony included students from several public schools, including special needs students who are deaf or physically challenged, with sign language interpretation provided. Education stakeholders, government officials, and community members witnessed the historic moment.

Minister Jallah's final words captured the mission perfectly: ending period poverty, one school at a time.