Promoting menstrual health: 2,000 Bono, Ahafo, North East schoolchildren receive training, sanitary pads

More than 1,000 schoolchildren, mainly girls, in five schools in the Bono and Ahafo regions have been trained on good menstrual and personal hygiene management to avoid infertility and body odour. 

The beneficiary schools are the Chiraa Presbyterian JHS, Nsoatre TI Ahmadiyya Model and Nkrankrom M/A Basic schools in the Bono Region, as well as Tanoano M/A Basic School and Tanoso Seventh Day Adventist JHS in the Ahafo Region.

The training was organised by the Young Urban Women’s Movement (YUWM) as part of activities to observe this year's International Menstrual Hygiene Day on the theme: “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld- promoting menstrual and personal hygiene in schools".

Infertility

At the Chiraa Presbyterian JHS, the Gender Education Officer at the Sunyani West Municipal Education, Constance Adogbama Ayambila, said the poor management of menstruation could lead to infertility among women.

Pupils and students of the Chiraa Presbyterian Basic and JHS at the training

She said good hygienic practices such as the use of sanitary pads and the adequate washing of the genital area were essential during menstruation.

Mrs Ayambila, therefore, advised girls to maintain good hygiene during their menstrual period to avoid infections.

"Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to reproductive tract infections (RTIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other health issues," she said.

Mrs Ayambila said inadequate management could cause discomfort, pain and irritation and advised boys in the schools not to stigmatise the girls during their menstrual period.

She advised girls to avoid self-medication during their menstrual period and visit health facilities when they experience severe pain.

Distribution of pads

Sponsored by ActionAid Ghana, YUWM distributed boxes of sanitary pads and sanitary pad dispensers to the beneficiary schools to ensure proper disposal of used pads.

Mary Donkor (right), Financial Officer of YUWM, speaking to the students of the Chiraa SDA School

The beneficiary pupils and students were schooled on how to use sanitary pads, dispose of used pads and keep their bodies clean during the menstrual period to prevent body odour.

The movement also organised a forum at Fiapre to discuss issues of personal and menstrual hygiene to climax this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day and the provision of clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools. 

Commit resources

The Programme Officer of ActionAid, Yaw Osei Boateng, called on the government to commit the needed resources and prioritise the provision of free sanitary pads to girls in schools as indicated in the 2025 budget statement.

A section of the students of Walewale SHS

That, according to him, would safeguard the dignity and integrity of girls and improve their school performances and reduce dropout rates in the country.

Mr Boateng said ActionAid, over the years, had been at the forefront of promoting water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools by constructing mechanised boreholes, toilets and girls’ changing facilities as part of school infrastructure to promote access to good child-friendly quality public education.

"Within the past four years, ActionAid has supported seven communities in the Tain and Asutifi districts with mechanised boreholes and toilet facilities in the model kindergarten infrastructure to increase access to water and improve sanitation and hygiene in schools, as well as girls changing rooms," he said.

Mr Boateng said the facilities had contributed significantly to increasing girls' retention in schools and improving the right to quality public education.

Commendation

The Secretary of the YUWM, Theresa Mawuena, commended the government for taking steps to provide sanitary pads to support girls in schools, explaining that it would improve menstrual issues among girls.

Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, presenting sanitary pads to a student

She explained that the day was observed annually on May 28 across the globe to create awareness of the day, focus on promoting good menstrual hygiene and challenge social taboos surrounding menstruation.

Ms Mawuena said the day was used to share information in the media, engage decision-makers and government officials in policy dialogue and advocate the integration of menstrual hygiene management into global, national and local policies and programmes.

She said the movement would continue its education to ensure that menstruation was accepted as a normal period and those going through it were not stigmatised.

Walewale SHS

In commemoration of this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, which was under the theme: “Together for a Period-Friendly Ghana”, non-governmental organisation Plan International Ghana also distributed 1,000 reusable sanitary pads to female students of the Walewale Senior High Technical School in the West Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region.

Constance Adogbama Ayambila (right), Gender Education Officer at the Sunyani West Municipal Education, demonstrating how to use sanitary pads

The gesture, which was part of efforts to promote menstrual hygiene, formed part of a three-year Integrated Package for Sustainable Community Development (I-PADEV) project, implemented in collaboration with its German National Office (GNO).

The project operates in the West Mamprusi Municipality and the Jasikan District in the North East and Oti Regions, respectively.

The project includes interventions such as Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), provision of water facilities and institutional toilet construction. It is designed to build a safe, resilient and protective environment that enhances the health and learning outcomes of children, especially girls, through equitable access to water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), education and health services.

Menstrual hygiene

Speaking at the event at Walewale last Thursday, the Country Director of Plan International Ghana, Constant Tchona, emphasised the importance of menstrual health as a basic human right, but not a luxury.

He indicated that many schools in Ghana lacked basic menstrual hygiene management facilities, such as changing rooms, running water and disposal systems, forcing many girls to stay out of school during their menstrual periods.

He stressed the need to do away with the myths and stigma associated with menstruation, saying we cannot achieve equality if periods are treated as problems. We cannot build a thriving Ghana if menstruation pushes girls to the margins.”

Mr Tchona commended the government for allocating GH¢292.4 million in the 2025 national budget to distribute free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.

Commendation

The North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, lauded the non-governmental organisation for its continuous support towards community development in the municipality.

He said the donation would complement the government’s Free Sanitary Pad Distribution exercise, which is expected to ease the financial burden on parents and boost school attendance among girls.

He also appealed to Plan International Ghana to expand its I-PADEV initiatives to the remaining five districts in the region.

The Headmaster of the Walewale Secondary Technical School, Rev. Ibrahim Sebiyam, expressed gratitude to the organisation for selecting their school, noting that the donation would help ensure girls stay in school during their menstrual cycles and improve their academic performance.

Writers’ emails: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh & mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh