Ho, May 29, GNA-Nneka Youth Foundation, a youth development and women empowerment entity (NYF), Feminine Star Africa in collaboration with the National Association of Public Health Students (NAPHS) have embarked on a menstrual hygiene outreach to commemorate the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
More than 700 girls within four clusters of schools in Afienya in the Ningo Prampram District (three schools in a cluster) and Afadjato South District (10 schools in three clusters) were beneficiaries.
Mr. Joel Edem Afari, the President of NAPHS and his team, who interacted with the youth in Afadzato South District noted that access to menstrual hygiene products was not easily affordable and available to majority of young women, even though there were measures to support them.
He said NAPHS would wage a relentless advocacy for girls and women to have access to period friendly facilities with ease.
Mr. Afari said talking about periods had become a tall order and tricky as parents seldomly discussed issues bordering on the subject and in the schools, teachers try but most of the times avoid discussions on menstruation, which compelled girls to seek information from second and third parties.
They educated the girls on the basics of menstruation, what it is in general, their menstrual cycle, why it happens, how to use sanitary pads and how to dispose of them.
Ms. Diana Tuekpe, a representative of NAPHS said at the Afienya programme: « It is our collaborative aim to spread information and educate to help break myths and misconceptions associated with menstruation among the youth and to educate the young girls on the importance of menstruation and menstrual hygiene management to boost their perception of periods and be confident during menstruation. »
Mrs. Cecilia Fiaka, Executive Director of NYF said ‘Period Poverty’ (when people are unable to afford or have access to basic hygiene products to manage their monthly cycle), is still very prevalent in the country.
She said period poverty is on the ascendancy and therefore urged policymakers to take a second look at the phenomenon and review taxes on sanitary pads.
The Executive Director said based on this, Nneka Youth Foundation in collaboration with Infinity Global Empowerment, decided to propagate the concept of switching to sustainable alternatives to sanitary pads.
She disclosed that more than 350 girls were trained in the Afadzato South District to produce their own “reusable pads” to help reduce period poverty.
She said the reusable pads go a long way to take care of the health of the eco-system as the environment was fragile due to human activity, to reduce the waste load on the planet from the disposal of sanitary pads.
She said the World Menstrual Hygiene Day exposed the girl to her right of information which will make her knowledgeable hence reduce absenteeism rate, teenage pregnancy rate and infection among girls.
The Afadzato South District Director of Education Dr. Esther Yebuah Adzima reiterated the need for the campaign to raise awareness on the importance of menstrual hygiene, mental wellbeing, self-care and adolescent health.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Esther Nartey, Afienya Coordinator, Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service were present to educate the children on safety measures to follow.
She added that the students should be part of the Campaign “Operation See Something, Say Something” for a safe country for all.
