Aburi Girls SHS hosts menstrual health summit
EMPOWERHER International Foundation, in collaboration with Sigma Gomma Rho Sorority, Inc. Nu Lambda Sigma Chapter, has held the fourth Annual Menstrual Health Summit at the Aburi Girls Senior High School in the Akuapem South Municipality in the Eastern Region.
This year’s EmpowerHer summit took place in five countries in West Africa including Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Ghana where its summit was held at Aburi Girls Senior High School.
Each of the 600 students between the ages of 12 and 18 who participated in the programme received EmpowerHer-branded reusable sanitary pad kit which included five eco-friendly reusable sanitary pads locally manufactured by EcoPeriod Reusable Sanitary Pads in Kumasi with the pad designed to last for at least one full year.
Menstrual education
A member of staff of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (Obstetrics Gyaenacology Department), Dr Audrey Allotey, took the students through topics including, female reproductive system, menstrual cycle, menstrual hygiene, hygienic ways of handling sanitary pads, sexually transmitted diseases, misconceptions about menstruation and the need to see menstruation as part of normal life for females, among others.
She educated the students through questions and answers on what they needed to know about menstruation and menstrual hygiene and cautioned them not to take advantage of their free periods after menstruation to have sex.
She explained that the possibility of being pregnant during free periods was high, since the sperm of a man could stay in a woman’s vagina up to three days.
Biological issue
According to Dr Allotey, all the mysteries about menstruation, including branding it as a taboo, was false and they should see it as a purely physiological and biological issue as they learnt in Science.
The President (Basileus) of the Nu Lambda Sigma Chapter in Ghana, Iris Ampofo-Barnes, who took the students through mental health, financial literacy, STEM Education and career guidance, stressed reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to holistic empowerment of girls to attain their full potential in life.
Ms Ampofo-Barnes said EmpowerHer International operated through four pillars, namely menstrual education, distribution of sustainable pads, clean water and sanitation access and promotion of gender equity, adding that “this year’s initiative is expected to impact over 2,000 girls across West Africa”.
She noted that as the organisation supported the girls with accurate knowledge, sustainable menstrual products and mentorship in health, STEM and career planning, the group was shaping a future led by confident, educated and empowered African women.
An old student of the school, Alberta Seyram Adjoa Ananga Ayitey (1996 -year group), and the Chief Executive Officer of ANEG Foundation, which empowers girls and youth in the country, said as a philanthropist and girls advocate, she came across so many challenges facing the girls and women ranging from mental and emotional destruction to poverty and loneliness.
Programme
The Assistant Headmistress of the school in charge of domestic, Rita Biney, who represented the headmistress at the programme, was very grateful to all the benefactors who in spite of many girls’ senior high schools in the country, chose to hold the summit in the school.
She expressed the hope that more of such groups would continue to empower the girls, especially the needy ones, to guarantee their future.
A final year student of the school, Omanye Naa Akushika Joel-Pappoe, who spoke with the Daily Graphic, lauded the group for the education they had at the programme which had de-mystified their thoughts and fears about menstruation, adding “We have learnt a lifelong lesson today as girls”.
