This is why Oxfam wants every corporate institution in Ghana to provide sanitary pads in washrooms

Corporate institutions in the country have been urged to provide sanitary pads in their various washrooms to enable female staff and clients access them when the need arises.

The Communications Co-ordinator of Oxfam in Ghana, Archibald Adams, said there were times that women's menstrual cycle were not anticipated, or even when it came, went  beyond the normal number of days when the woman might probably not be prepared.

He, therefore, said that having sanitary pads in washrooms could address the inconvenience that might occasion such unpreparedness.

"When women are menstruating, they go through a lot of issues —  psychological.  Its a bit about the hormones and all that and, therefore, sometimes  planning for the menstrual cycle can be challenging as well, that is why we are calling for it," the co-ordinator added.

Mr Adams said this on the sidelines of a training programme on menstrual hygiene organised for journalists by Youth for Health Project, and co-funded by the European Commission, with support from CSOs Platform in sustainable development goals.

The training was meant to equip the journalists with knowledge on menstrual hygiene.

Mr Adams said corporate institutions could, as part of their social responsibility, also adopt a public school and regularly provide them with sanitary pads.

He envisioned that since the government's free sanitary pads to girls had just started, there was anticipation of delays in the supply system due to bureaucracies.

"And the young girl who has been oriented to wait for the sanitary pads, when they don’t get it at the time they need it, it might be challenging to them," Mr Adam added.

On reuse of sanitary pads, he said since it went through standard protocols, it was safe to use.

The coordinator, however, cautioned that it must be properly washed, exposed to the sun as much as possible and ironed if possible to prevent bacteria infection.

Barriers

Mr Adams mentioned barriers to accessing menstrual health and hygiene to include lack of access to products such as sanitary pads, tampons or reusable options; poor sanitation facilities such as lack of clean, private toilets with water and disposal bins in schools and public places; stigma and shame; limited knowledge and cultural and religious taboos.

Other myths and misconceptions people have about menstruation include the fact that menstruation was a disease, while menstrual blood  was dirty.

He urged journalists to include local languages in their sensitisation drive, especially in rural areas, debunk myths through fact-based reporting, feature real stories and voices and also normalise menstruation through media contents.

Mr Adams described journalists as change agents, and that once they understood the subject, they could eliminate the myths and misconceptions people had about menstruation and menstrual hygiene as well as the stigma attached to it.