Continuous menstrual hygiene education matters

This year marks the ninth year since we started our menstrual hygiene advocacy campaign and it is encouraging to see more individuals and organisations joining the movement to promote menstrual health and hygiene for women and girls.

Back when we started, it was difficult to get our messages published or even get schools to open their doors to us because menstruation had long been treated as a taboo subject.

Conversations around menstrual health were often avoided, making awareness creation and education much more challenging than they are today.

Over the years, International Menstrual Hygiene Day, marked on May 28 each year, has become an important platform for many groups to organise outreach programmes, distribute sanitary products, and educate girls on menstrual hygiene.

While these activities are commendable, I believe menstrual hygiene advocacy should not be treated as a one-day event. It must be a continuous effort that extends beyond annual commemorations, especially in rural communities where access to information and sanitary products remains limited.

Sustained engagement

At Touching The Lives Of Girls Foundation International (TTLGFI), our focus has always been on sustaining engagement with girls after campaigns.

Educating girls for a single day without consistent follow-up makes it difficult to measure long-term impact.

When girls are given sanitary products during outreach programmes but receive no further support or education afterwards, many eventually return to old practices because they lack guidance and resources.

One of the major challenges we continue to face is the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation.

Although menstruation is a natural part of a woman’s health cycle, many young girls still feel uncomfortable discussing it openly with parents or guardians. 

Instead, they often turn to friends for advice, many of whom are equally uninformed.

This culture of silence prevents girls from learning proper menstrual hygiene practices at the right time.

I believe conversations around menstruation, reproductive health and personal hygiene must begin early at home and in schools.

Parents, especially mothers, need to create safe spaces where girls feel comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance without fear or shame.

Personal experience

My passion for menstrual hygiene advocacy is deeply personal.

Years ago, I suffered a severe pelvic infection that later spread to my ovaries and developed into cysts.

During treatment, doctors explained that the condition was linked to years of poor menstrual hygiene practices.

Reflecting on my childhood, I realised that when I first started menstruating,

I hid it from my mother and improvised with rags and toilet tissue because I did not know better and could not afford sanitary pads.

That experience opened my eyes to the dangers many young girls face when they lack proper education and access to sanitary products.

Today, many girls still go through similar experiences.

During our outreach programmes, I have observed that only a few girls are confident enough to ask questions publicly.

However, after the programmes, when I interact with them informally, many ask deeply concerning questions that reveal how little they know about menstrual hygiene and reproductive health.

This further confirms the need for continuous education and open conversations.

Since establishing TTLGFI, we have interacted with more than 300 schools across Ghana to educate girls on menstrual health, hygiene, and empowerment.

In every community we visit, we work closely with teachers, queenmothers, traditional leaders, and opinion leaders because community involvement is essential for lasting impact.

Our approach goes beyond menstruation alone.

We educate girls on personal hygiene, confidence, proper use of public washrooms, appropriate underwear selection, and the importance of using safe sanitary materials.

We also focus on helping girls build self-confidence so they do not feel ashamed or isolated during menstruation.

One issue that concerns me greatly is the number of girls who stay home from school during their menstrual periods.

Menstruation should never become a barrier to education.

Through our work, we are trying to ensure that girls feel confident enough to continue their daily activities without fear or embarrassment.

As more organisations join the menstrual hygiene advocacy space, I hope the focus will shift from symbolic annual celebrations to sustained, year-round interventions that genuinely improve the lives of girls.

Menstrual hygiene is not just about sanitary pads; it is about education, confidence, dignity, and ensuring that every girl has the support she needs to thrive.

Menstrual hygiene advocacy is not simply about commemorating a day on the calendar.

It is about creating lasting change, breaking harmful stigmas, improving health outcomes, and building the confidence of young girls.

I believe that when we continue to educate, support and empower girls consistently, we help create a generation of women who are informed, confident and unafraid to speak openly about their health and wellbeing.

The writer is the founder of Touching the Lives of Girls Foundation International (TTLGFI), a non-profit organisation focused on menstrual health, women empowerment, and well-being.